Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 70

The September 2-5, 2012

Roman Imperial Period

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 3196		Cn. Pompeius Magnus and Cn. Calpurnius Piso. AR Denarius minted along the Illyrian Coast, 48 BC. Bearded head right of Numa Pompilius wearing diadem inscribed NVMA. Reverse: Prow of ship right. Cr. 446/1; Syd. 1032. Rare. Just a trace of doubling on obverse. Well struck on a full flan with wonderful iridescent toning. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,623
Lot 3197		M. Junius Brutus and Casca Longus. AR Denarius struck at a mint moving with Brutus, 43-42 BC. Wreathed head right of Neptune; below, trident. Reverse: Victory walking right on broken scepter, holding palm branch over left shoulder; Victory holds broken diadem with both hands. Junia 44; Cr. 507/2; Syd. 1298. Very rare. Beautiful toning; Superb Extremely Fine. One of the joys of collecting Roman Republican and Imperatorial denarii is the dimension that most all are commemorating either a triumph in the past or, as in this case, a current event or hope for the future. Here we have a victory of Brutus and Cassius, in which the moneyers foresee a complete return to the freedom of Rome, without rule by a single person. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,900
Lot 3198		Julius Caesar, died 44 BC. AR Denarius likely minted in Gallia Narbonensis by Caesar, 49 BC. Elephant walking right, trampling snake. Reverse: Pontifical emblems. Julia 9; Cr. 443/1; Syd. 1006. Provincial style. Choice Very Fine. Many years ago a large hoard was found of this coin type. It was thought by some that it would take quite a while to distribute it in the channels of commerce. The coins were immensely popular and consisted of many more artistically refined issues, rather than the provincial style here offered. These Julius Caesar issues escalated in price and now are not often seen. Estimated Value $400 - 500. Ex Künker 143 (X 08), lot 428. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,323
Lot 3199		Julius Caesar. AR Denarius minted in North Africa, 47-46 BC. Diademed head right of Venus. Reverse: Aeneas advancing left, head facing slightly right, carrying Palladium in right hand, bearing his father Anchises on left shoulder. Sear 1402; RSC 12; Craw. 458/1. Iridescent tone. A few surface marks. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 600. Ex Palladium 8, 7 April 1995, lot 167; The Joseph Melchione Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $719
Lot 3200		Julius Caesar. Gold Aureus (8.07g) minted at Rome, 46 BC. Aulus Hirtius, praetor. Veiled head right of Vesta (Pietas?). Reverse: Jug between lituus and axe. Sear 1395; Calico 37; Craw. 466/1. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $3,500 - 4,500. The Joseph Melchione Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,475
Lot 3201		Cn. Pompey Junior. AR Denarius minted by Cn. Pompeius Magnus and M. Poblicius in Spain (Corduba?), 46-45 BC. The elder son of Pompey the Great Imperator, executed in 45 BC. Helmeted head right of Roma. Reverse: Female figure standing with shield slung on back, holding two spears and presenting palm branch to soldier standing left on prow of ship. Cr. 469/1a; Syd. 1035. Superb Extremely Fine. This exceptionally well-centered denarius is on a round, full flan. It is the finest specimen of this issue that this cataloguer has ever seen. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. Ex NAC sale 41 (2007), lot 15. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,830
Lot 3202		Pompey the Great. AR Denarius minted at Corduba, 46-45 BC. By Gnaeus Pompey Junior. Helmeted head right of Roma. Reverse: Hispania standing right, presenting palm branch to Pompey standing left on prow of galley. Sear 1384; RSC 1; Craw. 469/1a. Beautiful iridescent tone. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $700 - 900. Ex Irving Goodman Collection (Superior, 3 June 1996, lot 1736); The Joseph Melchione Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,064
Lot 3203		Sextus Pompey. AE As (17.36g) minted in Sicily, 43-36 BC. Laureate head of Janus, resembling Pompey the Great. Reverse: Prow of galley right. Craw. 479/1; RPC 671. Deep green patina. Some flatness. Very Fine. Estimated Value $250 - 375. The Joseph Melchione Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $529
Lot 3204		Sextus Pompey, d. 35 BC. AR Denarius minted in Sicily, 42 BC. Diademed head right of Neptune, trident over shoulder. Reverse: Naval trophy set on two canine heads of Scylla and anchor; around, inscription. Cr. 511/2b; Syd. 1347; Sear (Imperators) 333. Slight porosity on the obverse edge at 2-5 o'clock. Especially attractive obverse. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,610
Lot 3205		Lepidus and Octavian. AR Denarius minted in Italy, 42 BC. Bare head right of Lepidus, inscription around. Reverse: Bare head right of Octavian, inscription around. Cr. 495/2a; Syd. 1323; Sear (Imperators) 140. Rare. Three parallel pin-sized scratches on the Lepidus side. Two excellent portraits on this attractive Fine condition coin. Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $719
Lot 3206		Mark Antony and Octavian. AR Denarius minted by M. Barbatius Pollio at Ephesus, 41 BC. Bare head right of Antony. Reverse: Bare head right of Octavian, with long sideburn. Craw. 517/2; Syd. 243. Lustrous. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,830
Lot 3207		Marc Antony and Lucius Antony. AR Denarius struck by the moving mint in Asia Minor, 41 BC. Bare head right of Marc Antony, inscription around. Reverse: Bare head right of Lucius Antony, inscription around. Cr. 517/5a; Syd. 1185; Sear (Imperators) 246. Rare. Unobtrusive crescent banker's mark on neck of Lucius Antony, brother of Marc Antony. Toned. Very Fine. There was a plethora of debased and likely unofficial contemporary counterfeits in general circulation at this time. Those made with a silver jacket over a copper core are termed "fourrées". Various testing and weighing methods were used in the agora to guarantee their purity and weight, the banker's mark being one of these. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,140
Lot 3208		Mark Antony and Cleopatra. AE 22 (7.42g) minted at Chalcis, 36-30 BC. Diademed, draped bust right of Cleopatra. Reverse: Bare head right of Mark Antony. RPC 4771. Sharper striking than usual for this issue. Green and red-brown patina. Choice Very Fine / Very Fine. Estimated Value $700 - 900. Ex Freeman & Sear Mail Bid Sale 1, 10 March 1995, lot 208; The Joseph Melchione Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,064
Lot 3209		Mark Antony. AR Denarius, restoration issue minted at Rome, AD 168-169. By Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Praetorian galley right. Reverse: Legionary eagle between two standards; in fields LEG VI. Sear 5236; RSC 83; RIC 443. Light surface roughness. Nearly Extremely Fine and scarce. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex Irving Goodman Collection (Superior, 3 June 1996, lot 1739); The Joseph Melchione Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $604
Lot 3210		Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. AR Denarius minted at Rome by moneyer Q. Voconius Vitulus, 40 BC. Anepigraphic portrait of Julius Caesar right, wearing wreath. Reverse: Calf standing left. Cr. 526/4; Syd. 1133; Sear (Imperators) 331. Two insignificant counterstamps on obverse, not interfering with the excellent portrayal of Julius Caesar; two ancient pin scratches ("X" shape) in right field. Some smoothing in fields with a nearly EF portrait. Overall, Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,990
Lot 3211		Octavian. AR Denarius minted 30/29 BC probably at Rome. Bare head of Octavian, right. Reverse: IMP - CAESAR; military trophy, its base crossed with rudder and anchor and set on prow. RIC 265a; BMC-625; C-119; Sear 419. Struck a bit off-center and cleaned. Splendid portrait style. Choice Very Fine. Reverse refers to the various naval victories achieved by Octavian and Agrippa, most notably at Actium in 31 BC. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold