Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 60

Pre-Long Beach Coin Auction

Roman Imperial Coinage

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2355		Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius probably minted at Caesaraugusta in Hispania, c. 19-17 BC. Head right of Augustus wearing oak wreath. Reverse: Comet with eight rays. RIC 37a; BMC 323. Scratches from excessive cleaning, porous, banker's mark on cheek. Fine. After the murder of Caesar in 44 BC, a comet appeared in the sky; again in 17 BC, yet another was seen in the heavens. Caesaraugusta is today's Saragossa. Estimated Value $150 - 200. Ex CNG, July 2001. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2356		Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Gold Aureus (7.84 g) minted at Lugdunum, 11-10 BC. Laureate head right of Augustus. Reverse: Apollo Citharoedus standing right, holding cithara and plectrum. RIC 190a [as R3]. A sprinkling of marks on the reverse outside the design. Very Fine. An excellent portrait executed from the new bust sculpted at Gaul by a master artist. Augustus visited Gaul in 10 BC, at the time this gold aureus was struck. The important mint at Lugdunum was highly connected with the military might stationed in Gaul and Germania. The reverse depiction is of Apollo playing his lyre, associated with the victory at Actium. Lugdunum is now Lyon, France's second largest metropolitan area by population, behind the world famous City of Light. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. Deascensioned from the Museum of World Treasures, Wichita, Kansas. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,290
Lot 2357		Tiberius, AD 14-37. Gold Aureus (7.65 g) minted at Lugdunum. Laureate head right of Tiberius. Reverse: Female (Livia?) seated right, holding scepter and branch. RIC 29 [as Rare]; BMC 46. Very Fine. The "Tribute Penny" in gold of Biblical fame. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,335
Lot 2358		Caligula, AD 37-41. Gold Aureus (7.60 g) minted at Lugdunum, AD 37-38. Bare head right of Gaius (Caligula). Reverse: Radiate head right of the deified Augustus; on either side, six- rayed star. RIC 1 [as R2]; BMC 1. Wear evenly distrubuted with no serious problems. A reasonable gold aureus that will not cost "an arm and a leg". Fine to Very Fine. Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $15,525
Lot 2359		Agrippina Senior, mother of Caligula. AE Sestertius minted posthumously by Agrippina's son Gaius (Caligula) at Rome, AD 37-41. Draped bust of Agrippina Senior right. Reverse: Carpentum drawn left by two mules. RIC 55; BMC 85. Some tooling. Sharpness of Extremely Fine. In an effort to portray his dynasty, Gaius minted coins depicting Agrippina Senior, Augustus, Agrippa, Germanicus (his father), Nero and Drusus Caesars, as well as his three sisters - Agrippina (Junior), Drusilla and Julia - all within a four-year reign! Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2360		Claudius, AD 41-54. AR Cistophorus (11.43 g) minted at Ephesus, c. AD 50-51. Jugate busts left of Claudius and Agrippina II. Reverse: Diana of Ephesus facing. RIC 119; BMC 231; C. 1. Rare Cistophori of this series are never encountered in high grade. This being one of the finest extant. Nicely toned; Nearly Extremely Fine with excellent portraits. Agrippina II married Claudius, her uncle, in AD 49; this coin commemorates their union. Additionally, Agripina II was the sister of Gaius (Caligula) and the mother of Nero. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. Ex Bruun Rasmussen 764 (12 XII 2006), lot 5700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $12,650
Lot 2361		Trajan, AD 98-117. AE Sestertius minted at Rome, AD 98/9. Laureate head right of Trajan. Reverse: Concordia enthroned left, holding patera over lighted altar; left hand holds cornuacopiae. RIC 399; C. 619. Glossy olive-green patina with red chloride below the eye of Trajan. Light smoothing. Extremely Fine with excellent detail. The cornucopiae is our festal horn of plenty. For the double, as shown on this coin, or plural, "cornuacopiae is the correct term. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2362		Trajan, AD 98-117. AE Sestertius minted at Rome, AD 103-111. Laureate head right of Trajan. Reverse: The Circus Maximus, showing outer colonnade and partial view of the interior; in center, obelisk; metae at either end of the spina. RIC 571 [as Rare]; BMC 853. Fine with some Very Fine details. There were numerous rulers who enlarged and rejuvenated this most ancient Roman site of chariot races - most importantly Julius Caesar, Vespasian, Antoninus Pius and Trajan, as shown on this rare sestertius. The Circus Maximus was also a popular type chosen for contorniates, which were gaming tokens prevalent in the AD fifth century. According to ancient historians, the number of spectators who could be accommodated was between 150,000 and 385,000, depending on the enlargement constructed during the particular reign. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $949
Lot 2363		Time of Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180 or slightly later. AE 32 minted at Hierapolis-Kastabala, c. AD 175-185. Bust right of Dionysus, thyrsus over shoulder; in right field, bunch of grapes. Reverse: Marcus Aurelius seated left on curule chair, holding globe; above, Victory holds a wreath over our stoic philosopher-emperor. Very rare. SNG Leypold 2367; Sommer-Robert pl. XXVI, 73. Even dark patination; Choice Very Fine-Extremely Fine. The extant writings of Marcus Aurelius, including the "Meditations," are easily acquired and will provide the reader with yet another dimension, besides numismatics, that little in this world is truly new. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. Ex Hauck & Aufhauser 19, 21-22 March, 2006, lot 308. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2364		Commodus and Annius Verus. AE 18 minted at Tarsus in Cilicia, AD 166-169. Confronted, draped busts of Annius Verus and Commodus. Reverse: Decastyle temple. SNG Levante 1018. Very Rare and nicely detailed. Very Fine. Marcus Aurelius was the father of both Annius Verus and Commodus. Coinage portraying Annius Verus is seldom seen. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2365		Manlia Scantilla, wife of Didius Julianus, AD 193. AR Denarius minted at Rome during the brief reign of 66 days. Draped bust right of Manlia Scantilla. Reverse: Juno standing left, peacock at feet to left. RIC 7a; BMC 11; C. 2. Very Rare. Superb Extremely Fine. This exceptional denarius, portraying the wife of Didius Julianus, was struck on a full, round flan; it is normally seen in low grade with flan cracks and/or porosity. Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. Ex Triton VI (14 I 03), lot 906; Triton X (9 I 07), lot 653. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,338
Lot 2366		Three Silver Denarii of Caracalla. The bare-headed one as Caesar was struck at an Eastern or Balkan mint (RIC -- and likely unpublished; VF), with a VF-EF coin (reverse: Caracalla with standards; RIC 225 [as Scarce]), and a Virtually Mint State denarius (lustrous and boldly struck) depicting Hercules (RIC 206a) which commemorates the victory in Gaul, comprise this lot. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $275 - 350. View details	Realized $437
Lot 2367		Macrinus, AD 217-218. AR Denarius minted at Rome, December AD 217. Laureate bust right of Macrinus. Reverse: Macrinus seated left on curule chair. RIC 27 [as Scarce]; BMC pl. 79, 12 (this obverse die). Lightly toned; Superb Extremely Fine, possessing a magnificent portrait. Estimated Value $350 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 2368		Severus Alexander, AD 222-235. AR Denarius minted at Rome, AD 221, while Caesar under Elagabalus. Bareheaded and draped bust right of Severus Alexander. Reverse: Spes advancing left, holding flower and hem of stola. RIC 2 [as Rare]; BMC 264; C. 65. Surfaces somewhat mottled. Choice Very Fine. One of a few third-century rulers who are seldom seen with "as Caesar" status. Others are Gordian III and Volusian. Estimated Value $500 - 600. Ex A. Lynn collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $299
Lot 2369		Gordian I, AD 238. AR Denarius minted at Rome, March-April AD 238 (only 21 days!). Laureate, cuirassed and draped bust right of Gordian I Africanus. Reverse: Gordian I, togate, standing left, holding branch and scepter. RIC 1 [as R2]; BMC 1; C. 2. Huge flan; Virtually Mint State. Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. Ex A. Lynn Collection; Triton V (15-16 I 02), lot 2048. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $11,500
Lot 2370		Macedon under the Romans, Gordian III, AD 238-244. AE 26 minted c. AD 243-244. Diademed head right of Alexander the Great in the style of the coinage of Lysimachos. Reverse: Alexander taming Bucephalus. BMC 108; SNG Cop 1357. Very rare and of the finest style of the period, contemporary with the Abukir gold medallions. Extremely Fine with even brown patina. Likely issued to commemorate the Olympic Games at Beroea in Macedon, AD 243, or the visit of Philip I to Macedon in AD 244. Estimated Value $375 - 475. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 2371		Macedon under the Romans, Gordian III, AD 238-244. AE 26.5 minted c. AD 243-244. Head right of Alexander the Great as young Herakles, clad in lion's skin. Reverse: Pallas Nicephorus seated right. SNG Evelpidis 1492; cf. BMC 113; cf. Gaebler 412. Nearly Extremely Fine. This is one of the very few third century issues not to bear a portrait of the reigning Roman emperor. The quality of the Greek provincial celators could be very high indeed, as in these two examples, and a comparison with the original models seen on coins of Alexander the Great and Lysimachus is quite revealing. They are both excellent companion pieces to the Kings of Macedon tetradrachms of 500 years earlier. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $311
Lot 2372		Constantine I, the Great, AD 307-337. Gold Solidus (4.41 g) minted posthumously at Antioch, c. late AD 337. Diademed, cuirassed and draped bust right of Constantine the Great. Reverse: Victory seated right on cuirass inscribing shield being held by winged genius. RIC 13 [as R4]; C. 598. Lower half of obverse lightly scraped (at mint to reduce coin's weight?), but possessing excellent detail. Extremely Fine. The gold solidus, as a denomination and replacement for the gold aureus, was introduced c. AD 310 by Constantine I. This particular issue, while without the "Divus" (or Divine) inscription typical on earlier emperor's coins, was nevertheless struck posthumously by Constantine II and family. Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000. Deascensioned from the Museum of World Treasures, Wichita, Kansas. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,910
Lot 2373		Constantinian Commemorative Issues, AR Half Siliqua minted at Constantinople, c. AD 330 or later. Helmeted and draped bust right of Constantinopolis. Reverse: Large "K". Kent (Scripta Numm. H. Sutherland, 1978) pl. 13, 28. Some light marks, Very Fine. There is much uncertainty in the dating and denomination of this elusive issue. The "K" on the reverse likely represents the city of Constantinople, which was consecrated by Constantine the Great on 11 May 330. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $242
Lot 2374		Theodosius II, AD 402-450. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople, AD 425-429. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing of Theodosius II holding shield decorated with horseman. Reverse: Theodosius II and Valentinian III enthroned facing. Dep II 253, 78/1; DOC 370. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,265
Lot 2375		Anonymous, AD Fourth-Sixth Centuries. AR Half Siliqua (1.08 g), minted c. AD 430 at Constantinople. Helmeted bust of Roma right. Reverse: Large "R". Cf. BMC (Byzantine) p. 71, Class III; Sabatier, pl. XII, 9. Good Very Fine and toned; small striking crack. These rare coins of this series are likely to have been introduced by Constantine at the time of the dedication in 330 of his new eastern capital of Constantinople. Some bore the letter "K" on the reverse (for Constantinopolis), while others had "P" or "R" (for Roma). They come in a variety of styles, indicating that these types were issued sporadically over a long period of time, and it seems likely that the centennial of the original event in 430 and the bicentennial in 530 would have been appropriate occasions. The style of the present specimen would indicate that it may belong to the first 'revival' during the reign of Theodosius II. Estimated Value $325 - 425. CNG 73 (2006), lot 1034, The Christov Family Collection (brought $750 plus premium). View details and enlarged photos	Realized $299