Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 63

The Pre-Long Beach Auction of US, World Coins and Currency

Visigoths

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2598		Visigoths. Pseudo-Imperial Series. Gold Tremissis (1.48 g) minted mid-6th century. Diademed bust right; cross on chest vestment. Reverse: Victory advancing right, holding wreath. MEC I, 193 var. (inscription). Bold strike. Superb Extremely Fine. This wonderful fractional coin was likely minted at Narbonne. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,760
Lot 2599		Visigoths. Pseudo-Imperial Series with name of Justinian I (527-565). Gold Solidus (4.25 g) minted mid- to late 6th century. Helmeted facing bust holding spear. Reverse: Angel standing left holding staff; below, star. MEC I, 190. Very rare. Edge fault at 7:30 o'clock; light scratch in right field of obverse and reverse. Very Fine. While the Visigoths first settled in southern Gaul, by the sixth century they were firmly ensconced in Spain, ruling for over 100 years. Earlier, the Visigoths, under Alaric I, sacked Rome in AD 410. Their language was closely related to German. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2600		Visigoths. Liuva II, 601-603. Gold Tremissis (1.52 g) minted at Emerita (today's Mérida). Bust facing. Reverse: Bust facing. MEC I, 224; Miles (Hispanic Numismatic Series II) 122. Extremely rare. Beautiful red toning. Superb Extremely Fine. The lower bust treatment is likely a first step in deciding if a queen or co-ruler is depicted. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,370
Lot 2601		Visigoths. Sisebut, 612-621. Gold Tremissis (1.43 g) minted at Ispali (today's Seville). Bust facing. Reverse: Bust facing. MEC I, 232; Miles (Hispanic Numismatic Series II) 187. A few scattered light marks. Lustrous; Extremely Fine. While the identification of these cute busts remains controversial, all Visigothic coinage is rare. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,093
Lot 2602		Visigoths. Erwig, 680-687. Gold Tremissis (1.46 g) minted at Emerita (Mérida). Head of Christ(?) superimposed upon cross on base. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps with pellet above. MEC I, 267; Miles (Hispanic Numismatic Series II) 415. Very rare type. Beautifully centered and boldly struck. Superb, Virtually Mint State. Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,750. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,613
Lot 2603		Anastasius I, 491-518. Gold Barbaric Tremissis (1.48 g) perhaps struck by the Ostrogothic King Theoderic (493-526) at Rome or Milan. Diademed, cuirassed and draped bust of Anastasius I. Reverse: Victory advancing right holding wreath and cross on globe (globus cruciger). Cf. MEC (I) 114-116. Well centered with full legends. Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,783
Lot 2604		Justin I, 518-527. Gold Solidus (4.48 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justin I, holding spear and shield. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 2a; S. 56. Boldly struck and lustrous. Choice Extremely Fine. The three gold denominations used in commerce during the early Byzantine state were the solidus, semissis (half solidus) and tremissis (third solidus). The monthly wage for a soldier with his own horse was generally a solidus, and in fact, derived from the term "soldier". Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $805
Lot 2605		Justin I, 518-527. Gold Solidus (4.43 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justin I, holding spear and shield. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 2a; S. 56. Clean strike. About Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2606		Justin I, 518-527. Gold Solidus (4.48 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justin I, holding spear and shield. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 2i; S. 56. Large flan which shows moderate bend. Lustrous, Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $550 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $690
Lot 2607		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Solidus (4.43 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justinian I. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 3f; S. 137. Excellent facial detail; strike a bit uneven, common for sixth-century issues. Fully lustrous; Virtually Mint State. In marked contrast to the illiterate Justin I, Justinian I had thorough knowledge of the arts, theology, the sciences and, of course, the law. Estimated Value $625 - 675. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $604
Lot 2608		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Solidus (4.44 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justinian I. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 3i; S. 137. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $675 - 750. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 2609		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Solidus (4.47 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justinian I. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 3i; S. 137. Well struck, especially obverse. Reverse a little uneven, especially on the angel's face. Overall Extremely Fine. Certainly the most architecturally beautiful church of the world is the Hagia Sophia. Still standing in modern Istanbul (ancient Constantinople), this holy edifice was envisioned and built by the codifier of Roman law, Justinian I (the Great). Estimated Value $675 - 775. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2610		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Solidus (4.46 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justinian I. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 3e; S. 137. Very light and insignificant scratches in obverse left field. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $675 - 725. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2611		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Solidus (4.42 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter facing to right of Justinian I. Reverse: Angel holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in lower right field. D.O. 3i; S. 137. Some striking problems, lustrous. About Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 650. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2612		Justin II, 565-578. Gold Solidus (4.42 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing of Justin II holding globe surmounted by Victory, and shield. Reverse: Constantinopolis seated holding spear and globus cruciger. D.O. 4e; S. 345. Full flan with excellent detail. Superb Extremely Fine. Constantinian and later coin portraiture departed markedly from that of the AD first century or of the Hadrianic School. No more modeled jowls, inset eyes or three-dimensional sculpting. The coinage of the AD fourth century became flat, decidedly two-dimensional. Stock images were used as the marketplace no longer demanded individualistic features. Very few specific historical events were commemorated; no longer did the reverse of coins focus on the greatness of the emperor or of the empire. Was this coin designed to portray Justin II? No, only to suggest the emperorship in a sixth century artistic manner. All Byzantine coins, with certain exceptions, were similarly conceived. Estimated Value $425 - 475. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $719
Lot 2613		Maurice Tiberius, 582-602. Gold Solidus (4.43 g) minted at Carthage, 589-590. Helmeted, cuirassed and draped bust facing of Maurice Tiberius holding globus cruciger. Reverse: Angel standing facing, holding long staff and globus cruciger. D.O. 222; S. 548. Sharp strike; Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,800. Ex CNG 50 (23 VI 99), lot 1806. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,208
Lot 2614		Phocas, 602-610. Gold Solidus (4.51g) minted at Constantinople. Draped and cuirassed bust of Phocas facing, wearing crown and holding cross. Reverse: Angel standing, facing, holding globus cruciger and long cross. D.O. 5j; S. 618. A few weakly struck areas, as usual. Lustrous Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 350. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $518
Lot 2615		Heraclius, 610-641. Gold Solidus (4.32 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (son of Heraclius) wearing crowns surmounted with crosses; above and between, cross. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 13e; S. 738. Well centered with full legends on both sides. Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2616		Constans II, 641-668. Gold Solidus (4.35 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing busts of Constans II with long beard and Constantine IV (son of Constans II). Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 25j; S. 959. A few light marks on reverse. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $506
Lot 2617		Constans II, 641-668. Gold Semissis (2.21 g) minted at Constantinople. Diademed, cuirassed and draped bust right of Constans II. Reverse: Cross potent on globe. D.O. 44; S. 983. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $483
Lot 2618		Constantine IV, 668-685. Gold Solidus (4.42 g) minted at Constantinople. Beardless bust three-quarter facing to right, wearing helmet and cuirass, and holding spear. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps between facing standing figures of Heraclius and Tiberius (brothers of Constantine IV). D.O. 6a; S. 1153. A superb, well-struck specimen. Mint State. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,019
Lot 2619		Leo III, 717-741. Gold Solidus (4.41 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Leo III holding globus cruciger and akakia. Reverse: Facing bust of beardless Constantine V holding globus cruciger and akakia. D.O. 4f; S. 1504. Flan a bit wavy, but with two excellent portraits. About Extremely Fine. Begun by Leo III, the great Iconoclastic Controversy caused a schism in theology and was responsible for the destruction of artistic creations, as the adherents would not allow the intermediary worship of images. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,530
Lot 2620		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.44 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Constantine V with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. D.O. 1c; S. 1550. Scarce. Well centered with two excellent portraits. Extremely Fine. Silver was the metal least used for Byzantine coinage. The silver denomination introduced under Constantine V was the miliaresion, roughly fashioned after Islamic dirhams. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,750. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,001
Lot 2621		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Constantine V with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. D.O. 1d; S. 1550. Scarce. A superb example. Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,750. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,415
Lot 2622		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Constantine V with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. D.O. 1d; S. 1550. Scarce. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,400. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2623		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.43 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Constantine V with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. Cf. D.O. 1d; S. 1550. Scarce. Very Fine / Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $690
Lot 2624		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.41 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Constantine V with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) with short beard, holding cross potent and akakia. Cf. D.O. 1g; S. 1550. Scarce. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 2625		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.44 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine V and Leo IV (son of Constantine V); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) holding cross potent. D.O. 2a; S. 1551. Nice large flan. Extremely Fine. An unusually attractive example of this very scarce dynastic type. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,750. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2626		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.40 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine V and Leo IV (son of Constantine V); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) holding cross potent. D.O. 2g; S. 1551. Some scratches. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $690
Lot 2627		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.41 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine V and Leo IV (son of Constantine V); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) holding cross potent. D.O. 2c; S. 1551. Scarce. Light mark on reverse edge at 12 o'clock. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2628		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.43 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine V and Leo IV (son of Constantine V); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) holding cross potent. D.O. 2d; S. 1551. Scarce. Particularly fine portrait of Leo III. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,300 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2629		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.34 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine V and Leo IV (son of Constantine V); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) holding cross potent. D.O. 2c; S. 1551. Scarce. Wavy flan and edge slightly reduced in places. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $667
Lot 2630		Leo IV, 775-780. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Leo IV and Constantine VI (son of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Busts facing of Leo III (grandfather of Leo IV) and Constantine V (father of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. D.O. 1b; S. 1583. Rare. Well centered on an unusually nice flan. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. This type was the Byzantine equivalent of earlier dynastic issues from ancient Greek times. Examples of its predecessors can be studied in the Ptolemaic, Baktrian and Sasanian coins present in this sale. Estimated Value $1,700 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,840
Lot 2631		Leo IV, 775-780. Gold Solidus (4.37 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Leo IV and Constantine VI (son of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Busts facing of Leo III (grandfather of Leo IV) and Constantine V (father of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. D.O. 1b; S. 1583. Rare. Matching weakly struck areas. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 1,700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,725
Lot 2632		Leo IV, 775-780. Gold Solidus (4.39 g) minted at Constantinople. Leo IV and Constantine VI (son of Leo IV) enthroned, facing; in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Busts facing of Leo III (grandfather of Leo IV) and Constantine V (father of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. D.O. 2; S. 1584. Rare. Well struck for this normally poorly minted emission; on a large diameter, round flan. About Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,415
Lot 2633		Leo IV, 775-780. Gold Solidus (4.46 g) minted at Constantinople. Leo IV and Constantine VI (son of Leo IV) enthroned, facing; in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Busts facing of Leo III (grandfather of Leo IV) and Constantine V (father of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. D.O. 2; S. 1584. Rare. Matching weakly struck areas on obverse and reverse. Lustrous. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Pretty much as struck. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,070
Lot 2634		Leo IV, 775-780. Gold Solidus (4.36 g) minted at Constantinople. Leo IV and Constantine VI (son of Leo IV) enthroned, facing; in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Busts facing of Leo III (grandfather of Leo IV) and Constantine V (father of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. D.O. 2; S. 1584. Rare. Small flan as usual. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,335
Lot 2635		Constantine VI, 780-797. Gold Solidus (4.41 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine VI and Irene (mother of Constantine VI); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Leo III (great-grandfather of Constantine VI), Constantine V (grandfather of Constantine VI) and Leo IV (father of Constantine VI) enthroned facing. D.O. 1; S.1593. Very rare. Excellent facial details. About Extremely Fine. From the reign of the gifted philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius to that of Irene, we trace the dissolution of an empire, just as the last leaves descending from the gnarled branches of a tree. Two quiet souls separating, east and west. There was no more Western Roman Empire after Christmas Day, AD 800. Charlemagne was crowned Roman Emperor of the West on that day by Pope Leo III. Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,050
Lot 2636		Constantine VI, 780-797. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine VI and Irene (mother of Constantine VI); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Leo III (great-grandfather of Constantine VI), Constantine V (grandfather of Constantine VI) and Leo IV (father of Constantine VI) enthroned facing. D.O. 1; S.1593. Very rare. Matching striking weakness on faces of Constantine VI and Leo III; excellent detail on Irene. About Extremely Fine. Even Charlemagne was smitten by the charms of the Athenian Irene. They both played chess, and many of their moves are preserved to this day. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2637		Constantine VI, 780-797. Gold Solidus (4.38 g) minted at Constantinople. Busts facing of Constantine VI and Irene (mother of Constantine VI); in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Leo III (great-grandfather of Constantine VI), Constantine V (grandfather of Constantine VI) and Leo IV (father of Constantine VI) enthroned facing. D.O. 1; S.1591. Very rare. Attractive obverse portraits; reverse portraits weakly struck. Overall Very Fine. A typical example of this poorly struck type; many are holed or very garbled from the minting procedure. Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,025
Lot 2638		Nicephorus I, 802-811. Gold Solidus (4.44 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Nicephorus I holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 1a; S.1603. Very rare. On a rather small diameter flan; possible tooling on forehead of emperor and associated lower portion of reverse. Choice Very Fine. Ceremonial issue minted upon the elevation of Nicephorus I to the Purple. Estimated Value $2,800 - 3,200. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2639		Nicephorus I, 802-811. Gold Solidus (4.40 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Nicephorus I holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Stauracius (son of Nicephorus I) holding globus cruciger and akakia. D.O. 2c; S. 1604. Scarce. Small fault from the minting procedure on obverse, 1:30 o'clock. Lustrous, Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,400 - 2,800. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2640		Nicephorus I, 802-811. Gold Solidus (4.44 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Nicephorus I holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Stauracius (son of Nicephorus I) holding globus cruciger and akakia. D.O. 2a; S. 1604. Scarce. Lustrous, Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,800 - 2,200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,013
Lot 2641		Nicephorus I, 802-811. Gold Solidus (4.37 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust facing of Nicephorus I holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Bust facing of Stauracius (son of Nicephorus I) holding globus cruciger and akakia. D.O. 2b; S. 1604. Scarce. Edge reduced at around high noon on obverse, and slight planchet lamination to left of Stauracius. Luster remaining. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,350. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,150
Lot 2642		Theophilus, 829-842. Gold Solidus (3.33 g) minted at Syracuse. Facing bust of Theophilus holding globus cruciger. Reverse: Facing bust of Theophilus holding cross potent. D.O. 25.1; cf. S. 1670. Choice Very Fine. Crude varieties made at the time have blundered legends and small flans, such as this example. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $719
Lot 2643		Romanus III, 1028-1034. Gold Histamenon Nomisma (4.33 g) minted at Constantinople. Christ enthroned facing, raising right hand in benediction. Reverse: The Virgin crowning the emperor. D.O. 1d; S. 1819. Excellent detailed strike and with full legends on both sides. Nearly Mint State. While certainly not a rare coin type, it is seldom seen with such fine facial delineation on all three figures. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,990
Lot 2644		Constantine X, 1059-1067. Gold Histamenon Nomisma (4.41 g) minted at Constantinople. Christ seated facing on throne, raising right hand in benediction. Reverse: Constantine standing facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger. D.O. 1; S. 1847. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 350. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $529
Lot 2645		John II, Comnenus, 1118-1143. Electrum Aspron Trachy (4.39 g) minted at Constantinople. Christ seated facing on throne. Reverse: John II and Saint George standing facing, holding patriarchal cross between them. Hendy plate 10, 3-4; S. 1942. Reverse scratches at 12 o'clock. Unusually well-detailed strike. Very Fine to Extremely Fine. These cup-shaped, or scyphate, flans are common for later Byzantine issues. Estimated Value $450 - 550. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $506
Lot 2646		John II, Comnenus, 1118-1143. Electrum Aspron Trachy (4.39 g) minted at Constantinople. Christ seated facing on throne. Reverse: John II and Saint George standing facing, holding patriarchal cross between them. Hendy plate 10, 3-4; S. 1942. Light scratching/graffiti on both sides. Large, complete flan. Choice Very Fine for issue. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2647		Manuel I, 1143-1180. Gold Hyperpyron (4.28 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust of Christ facing, raising right hand in benediction. Reverse: Manuel standing facing, holding labarum and globus surmounted by patriarchal cross. Hendy plate 12, 1-11; S. 1956. Obverse graffiti. Wonderfully detailed strike; Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $661