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Sale 72
February 2-5. 2013
| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 4100 |
 |
Baktrian Kingdom. Euthydemos I, ca. 230-200 BC. Gold Stater (8.14g) struck ca. 225-218 BC. Diademed head of Euthydemos I right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ EYΘYΔHMOY. Naked Herakles seated left on rocks, holding club against column of rocks with right hand; to left above, monogram. Bopearachchi Série 1C; Mitchiner 84.a. The obverse struck slightly off-center. Lustrous and extremely rare. Superb Extremely Fine.
The Baktrian and Indo-Greek kingdom, created in the mid-third century BC from the most easterly provinces of the Seleukid realm, produced abundant coinages in silver and bronze, though gold was always of considerable rarity. This early stater of Euthydemos I (ca. 230-200 BC) is purely Greek in its inspiration, and the king was, in fact, a native of Magnesia in Ionia. The 'weary Herakles' reverse type appears to have been inspired by the tetradrachm coinages of Antiochos II from several mints of western Asia Minor, notably Myrina, Kyme, and Phocaia. Mitchiner attributes this gold stater to Balkh (Greek Baktra), the capital city of Baktria and the principal mint prior to the expansion of the kingdom.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000.
The Hunter Collection; Ex Harlan J. Berk Sale 90, April 17, 1996, lot 9.
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| Realized
$13,800 |
Lot 4101 |
 |
Baktrian Kingdom. Demetrios I, ca. 200-185 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (16.7g). BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY. Diademed and draped bust right wearing elephant skin headdress. Reverse: Herakles standing facing, crowning himself, holding a club and lion's skin, monogram inner left. Bopearachchi Série 1C; SNG ANS 187. Some minor porosity on the reverse and cleaned long ago. Light gray toning. A lovely example of this popular type. About Extremely Fine.
Demetrios I was the son and successor of Euthydemos I and ruled the Baktrian kingdom in the early years of the second century BC. His reign was notable for the expansion of Greek power southwards into the Kabul Valley and beyond, an achievement commemorated by the splendid representation of the king wearing an elephant's skin headdress on this handsome Attic weight tetradrachm. On the reverse appears a standing figure of the hero Herakles crowning himself and holding his usual attributes of a club and a lion's skin.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized
$4,830 |
Lot 4102 |
 |
Baktrian Kingdom. Antimachos I, Theos, ca. 180-170 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (16.9g), Attic standard. Diademed and draped bust of Antimachos facing right wearing kausia. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ θEOY ANTIMAΧOY. Poseidon standing facing, holding trident and palm fronds, monogram inner right. Bopearachchi Série 1A; SNG ANS 274; MIG 124b. Lightly toned. Wonderful detail and struck in high relief and virtually as struck. Superb Extremely Fine.
This Attic weight silver tetradrachm in the name of Antimachos I, Theos displays a remarkably realistic portrait of the king. He is shown wearing the broad-rimmed Macedonian kausia (recalling the origin of the kingdom), while on the reverse, a standing figure of Poseidon is depicted. Given the geographical situation of the Indo-Greek realm, presumably Poseidon appears here in his role as protector of rivers rather than god of the sea. Little is known of the history of Antimachos' reign, though the style and content of his coinage clearly place him in the early decades of the second century BC with Agathokles and Apollodotos I as his contemporaries.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 7,500.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized
$9,200 |
Lot 4103 |
 |
Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides, ca. 171-145 BC. Gold Stater (8.46g). Diademed and draped bust right of Eukratides in helmet adorned with bull's ear and horn. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY EYKPATIΔOY. Dioskouri on rearing horses right, each holding palm branch and spear; to right, monogram. Al. N. Oikonomedes, "The Gold Coinage of the Indo-Greek King Eukratides I (171-155 B.C.)," North American Journal of Numismatics 7.6 (1968), Group B; F.L. Holt, "Eukratides of Baktria," Studies Oikonomedes, pp. 72-76; Bopearachchi 5 var. (unlisted monogram); cf. Bopearachchi 7A (drachm).
Extremely rare, only seven known examples of this type.
Perfectly centered and free from faults. A marvelous strike. Lustrous. Nearly Mint State.
Eukratides I, unquestionably one of the most important monarchs of the Baktrian and Indo-Greek kingdom, ruled for about a quarter of a century, having risen to power ca. 170 BC. His extensive coinage includes a unique gold 20-stater piece in Paris, tetradrachms with a majestic left-facing heroic bust of the king, and tetradrachms depicting portraits of his parents Heliokles and Laodike. Gold is of great rarity, and this superbly preserved stater is probably from the mint of Pushkalavati (modern Charsadda in the Peshawar valley of Pakistan). The king wears a helmet, which is curiously reminiscent of the British colonial helmets of the Victorian era. It is ornamented with a bull's horn and ear, as on the coins of Seleukos I of Syria depicting Alexander as the god Dionysos, the legendary conqueror of the Orient. The reverse features the mounted Dioskouroi, Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus and Leda and brothers of Helen of Troy. The Dioskouroi also appear on the coins of the Syrian king Antiochos VI in the years immediately following the end of Eukratides' reign, though this may be no more than coincidence.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 50,000.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized
$109,250 |
Lot 4104 |
 |
Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides, ca. 171-145 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (16.8g) Attic standard. Diademed, heroic bust of Eukratides left, wearing helmet adorned with a bull's ear and horn, brandishing javelin, seen from behind. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY EYKPATIΔOY. The Dioskouroi on horseback right holding palms and spears; monogram lower right. Bopearachchi Série 8B; SNG ANS 485; MIG 179a. Light purple-gray tone. Excellent metal and problem free. A stunning example of this rare and popular type. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
The Hunter Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$10,063 |
Lot 4105 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy I, Soter, 305-283 BC. Gold Stater (7.1g) minted at Kyrene, 298-294 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis around neck. Reverse: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEYΣ. Deified Alexander III, the Great, holding thunderbolt in right hand and reins in left, driving quadriga of elephants left; in exergue, apple tree branch. Svoronos 101; for date, see Lorber, "A Revised Chronology of the Coins of Ptolemy I," NC (2005), 45-64. Some minor die rust and faint traces of doubling on the reverse. A stunning, lustrous example. Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized
$31,050 |
Lot 4106 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy I, as Satrap, 323-305 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (17.1g) minted at Alexandria, ca. 311-305. Attic standard tetradrachm struck in the name of Alexander III, the Great. Diademed head right of Alexander the Great, with horn of Ammon and wearing elephant-scalp headdress; scaly aegis around neck. Reverse: AΛEΞANΔPOY. Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand and raising shield in left; to lower right, ΔI; to outer right, eagle standing right on thunderbolt. SNG Copenhagen 14; Zervos Issue XIII; cf. Svoronos 33. Excellent metal and well struck. Lovely style and attractively toned. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized
$20,125 |
Lot 4107 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy I, Soter, 305-283 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (15.56g) minted at Alexandria. In the name of Alexander III, the Great. Head of Alexander the Great right, with horn of Ammon, clad in elephant's skin and aegis. Reverse: AΛEΞANΔPOY. Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing spear and holding shield; in field left monogram; and eagle in right field. Svoronos 139; BMC 6. 6, 46; Sear 7749. Fantastic style, excellent metal and nicely toned. A coin of exceptional beauty. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized
$8,625 |
Lot 4108 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. Berenike II, wife of Ptolemy III, Euergetes, 246-221 BC. Gold Oktadrachm (27.79g). Minted at Alexandria, ca. 244/243-221 BC. Veiled and draped bust right of Berenike II. Reverse: BEPENIKHΣ BAΣIΛIΣΣHΣ. Cornucopiae bound with fringed fillet. SNG Copenhagen 169; Svoronos 1113. A gem of a specimen struck in high relief. An absolutely marvelous example. Lustrous. Superb Extremely Fine.
No regal series of the Hellenistic Age can rival the large gold denominations produced by the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt. This beautiful oktadrachm issued under Ptolemy III, Euergetes (246-221 BC) has a sensitive portrait of his wife Berenike II, daughter of Magas, governor and subsequently king of Kyrenaica. Probably struck during her husband's absence from Egypt during the Third Syrian War, Berenike's surprisingly extensive coinage comprises a full range of gold, silver, and bronze denominations.
These were the first coins in Egypt to bear the name and title of a reigning queen, and they were long remembered in antiquity as an issue of special significance. On the death of Ptolemy III in 222 BC, Berenike became joint ruler with her son Ptolemy IV. However, the new ruler was weak willed and soon came under the influence of unworthy favorites who persuaded him to have Berenike poisoned.
Estimated Value $30,000 - 40,000.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized
$41,400 |
Lot 4109 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. In the name of Arsinoê II. Ptolemy II, Philadelphos, 285-246 BC. Silver Dekadrachm (35.5g). Minted at Alexandria, ca. 253-242 BC. Veiled head of Arsinoê II right, wearing stephane and ram's horn; lotos-tipped scepter over left shoulder; to left, two letters. Reverse: APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY. Double cornucopiae bound with fringed fillet. Troxell, ANS MN 28, pl. 8, 6 (this coin); Svoronos 958. Faint graffiti noted on reverse. Lovely metal with attractive antique cabinet toning. Extremely Fine.
The undated series of commemorative coins for Arsinoê II, wife of Ptolemy II, commenced under her husband and continued into the reign of his son, Ptolemy III. The series of letters which appear behind Arsinoê's head, long thought to be dates, are almost certainly issue marks. This attractive piece is from a particularily rare issue equivalent to the number 47.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
The Hunter Collection; Ex Superior Stamp & Coin NYINC Auction, December 6-7, 1996, lot 1636; Bank Leu 7, 9 May 1973, lot 303.
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| Realized
$31,050 |
Lot 4110 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy IV, Philopator, 221-204 BC. Gold Oktadrachm (27.8g). Bust of deified Ptolemy III right, wearing radiate crown and aegis, a trident over his shoulder. Reverse: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ. Radiate cornucopia with fillets; ΔI below. Svoronos 1117; SNG Copenhagen 196. A superb example struck in high relief and lustrous. Nearly Mint State.
Ptolemy IV lacked the character and skill of his father and left the affairs of state to the unscrupulous minister Sosibos. Much of this king's time was spent in wild drunken orgies and total self-indulgences. He died at the age of 40 and left his only son, an infant of his sister-wife Arsinoê III, to succeed him.
Estimated Value $8,000 - 10,000.
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| Realized
$13,800 |
Lot 4111 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. In the name of Ptolemy IV, Philopator, 221-204 BC. Ptolemy V, Epiphanes, 204-180. Gold Oktadrachm (27.7g) minted at Sidon, ca. 202-200 BC. Diademed and draped bust right of Ptolemy IV. Reverse: ΠTOΛEMAIOY ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ. Eagle with folded wings standing three-quarters right on thunderbolt; to right, ΣΩ over ΣI. Kyrieleis, "Die Porträtmünzen Ptolemaios' V. und seiner Eltern," JdAI 88, cf. fig. 32 = Hunter III, p. 382, 26, pl. lxxxiii = Svoronos 1187 (ΣΩ over ΠT in reverse right field); cf. Svoronos 1185 (silver tetradrachm with ΣΩ in left field, ΣI between eagle's legs); Bank Leu Auction 52, 15 May, 1991, lot 136 (same dies).
Exceedingly rare and extremely desirable. One of the finest known Greek gold coins. Boldly struck in high relief, on a large flan and in an astounding state of preservation. A cameo-like gem with beautifully modelled, three-dimensional artistry. Mint State.
This magnificent portrait piece depicting Ptolemy IV, Philopator (222-205 BC), son of Ptolemy III and Berenike II, was issued at the Phoenician mint of Sidon and probably belongs to the early years of the reign of his son Ptolemy V, Epiphanes (205-180 BC). The realistic portrait is of the finest Hellenistic style. It clearly betrays the weakness of the monarch's character and his self-indulgent lifestyle that was to set the Egyptian kingdom on its long path of decline. The eagle on the reverse, symbolic of Zeus, is unusual on gold issues, though normal on the silver and bronze issues. Ptolemy IV was married to his full sister Arsinoe III who, because of her strong influence over her husband-brother, was ultimately banished from the court. On his death at the early age of forty Ptolemy IV was succeeded by his five-year-old son Ptolemy V. In the brief interregnum, Arsinoê had been murdered to prevent her from influencing the young king.
The coronation of Ptolemy V was commemorated by the celebrated Rosetta Stone, now in the British Museum, which provided scholars with the key for the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
This monumental gold denomination and the exceptionally refined portraiture mark this issue as an important presentation piece, medallic in character. It seems contrary to expectation that a gold presentation coinage honoring the deified father of Ptolemy V should have been minted in the provinces, yet that is precisely the implication of the Ptolemais and Sidon mintmarks found on this coin. Another posthumous oktadrachm of Ptolemy IV (Kyrieleis fig. 31 = Hunter 27) bears the regnal date ΛΓ, the third year of Ptolemy V, a dating that would seem to bring this magnificent commemorative coinage perilously close to the time of the Fifth Syrian War (ca. 202-200 BC). In fact, the production of gold oktadrachms continued from a mobile military mint during the hostilities (see Mørkholm, Essays Thompson, pp. 203-208).
Another explanation, as stated in the Leu catalogue, is that this exceptional issue was part of a special coinage struck shortly after Philopator's death in 205 (or early 204 BC); issued not for general circulation, but for distribution among the high officials of the kingdom. It emphasized the legitimate succession of the young king Ptolemy V, a boy of six at the time of his coronation, and, at the same time, it paid homage to his deified parents. In addition, it may have bought the officials' silence over the mysteries surrounding both the queen's death and the choice of Epiphanes' guardians. ΣΩ stands for Sosibios the elder, Philopator's chief minister, who had practically ruled Egypt since 221 BC.
Estimated Value $200,000 - 250,000.
The Hunter Collection; Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXV, 29 November 1990, lot 285.
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| Realized
$425,500 |
Lot 4112 |
 |
Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy VI, Philometor and Ptolemy VIII, Euergetes. Gold Mnaieion (Oktadrachm) (27.88g). Minted at Alexandria, ca. 180-116 BC. In the name of Arsinoê II. Veiled head of Arsinoê II right, wearing diadem and stephane, with ram's horn at ear. at shoulder and behind head, lotus scepter, an in left field, K. Reverse: APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY. Double cornucopiae, bound with fillet; Svoronos 1498-9; SNG Cop. 321-2; SNG Delepierre 3063 (as head of Cleopatra I); Dewing Coll. 2762. NGC graded Mint State*; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5 . Well centered and struck, the high relief portrait dignified and elegant for this series. Very lustrous.
Although Queen Arsinoê II, the sister-wife of Ptolemy II, Philadelphos died 270/268 BC, she was deified and a remarkable series of high-value precious metal coins were issued. This example was issued after circa 193/2 BC.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
Ex Millennia Collection (Goldberg Coins, Sale 46B, May 26, 2008, lot 71).
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| Realized
$21,850 |
Lot 4113 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. In the name of Arsinoê II. Gold Mnaieion (Oktadrachm) (27.96g) minted at Alexandria. Time of Ptolemy VI - Ptolemy VIII, 180-116 BC. Veiled head of the deified Arsinoê II, wife of Lysimachos and later her brother Ptolemy II, right, wearing stephane; K behind. Reverse: Double cornucopiae bound with fillet. Cf. Arsinoê p. 67, 8; Svoronos 1499; SNG Cop 322. Well-centered and excellent style. A superb example struck in very high relief and lustrous. Nearly Mint State.
The Mnaieion was the largest regular issue gold coin to circulate in the ancient world. Coins in honor of Arsinoê II were struck until some point near the end of the second century BC, and the issues with "K" behind her bust seem to be the last in the series.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
Wolfen Family Foundation, purchased from Bank Leu early 1970s.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$11,213 |
Lot 4114 |
 |
Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom. In the name of Arsinoê II, time of Ptolemy VI - Ptolemy VIII, 180-116 BC. Gold Tetradrachm (13.93g) minted at Alexandria. Diademed and veiled head of Arsinoê II right, wearing stephane and ram's horn; lotos-tipped scepter over left shoulder; to left, K. Reverse: APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY. Double cornucopiae bound with fringed fillet. Svoronos 1500. Well struck in high relief. A marvelous specimen and lustrous. Many times scarcer than the larger oktadrachms. Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
The Hunter Collection. Ex Stack's Sale, December 3, 1996, lot 90; Stack's Sale, April 30, 1964, lot 29.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$32,200 |
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