Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 72

February 2-5. 2013

Roman Imperatorial Period

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 4402		Labienus, Imperator Parthicus. Silver Denarius (3.7g) minted in Asia Minor (likely at Antioch), 40 BC. Q LABIENVS PARTHICVS IMP. Bare head of Labienus facing right. Reverse: Saddled horse standing right. Cr.524/2; Syd.1357; RSC 2. Trivial banker's mark on cheek. Some old test digs and hairlines on the reverse. Clear and well-centered types with lovely antique grey toning. Overall, A decent example of this important and historical coin. Very rare. About Very Fine. Very rare. Since he was a traitor to Rome, Labienus' coinage was melted down with only a handful surviving. This very rare issue was produced early in 40 BC in Syria or southeastern Asia Minor in the name of the imperator Quintus Labienus, son of the Pompeian general Titus Labienus who had fallen in battle against Julius Caesar in 45 BC. In the winter of 43/42 BC Quintus had been sent by the tyrannicide Cassius to the court of Orodes II to gain the active support of the Parthians in the struggle of the Republican faction against the triumviral government in Rome. The defeat of the Republican leaders Brutus and Cassius at Philippi in October 42 BC left Labienus stranded in Parthia without a cause. Feeling he had nothing more to lose, he persuaded Pacorus, son of Orodes, to join him in a military adventure. They invaded Syria where they overcame the Roman governor Decidius Saxa whose legions deserted to the rebel cause. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Mark Antony, who had been dallying with Cleopatra in Alexandria, dispatched his trusted general Ventidius to deal with the crisis, which had now spread into Asia Minor. Ventidius quickly achieved the victory over Labienus and had him put to death, and Pacorus suffered the same fate the following year. The coinage of Labienus comprises gold aurei and silver denarii. It was probably all struck on a single occasion, perhaps for the purpose of a donative to the legions of Saxa. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. The Hunter Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,050
Lot 4403		Julius Caesar, died 44 BC. Silver Denarius (3.9g) struck at a mint traveling with Caesar, possibly in Gallia Narbonensis. Elephant walking right, trampling serpent before it. Reverse: Simpulum, sprinkler, ax and apex. Craw 443/1; Syd 1006. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $891
Lot 4404		Julius Caesar. 49-44 BC. Silver Denarius (3.8g). Struck in Spain c. 46-45 BC. Diademed head of Venus right, small Cupid at shoulder behind. Reverse: CAESAR, trophy of Gallic arms between seated male and female captives. Craw. 468/1; RSC 13; Sear 1404. Lustrous Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,323
Lot 4405		Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. Silver Denarius (4.1g) minted at Rome, April 44 BC by moneyer C. Cossutius Maridianus. Laureate, veiled head of Caesar right; apex behind; lituus before. Reverse: Moneyer's name in cruciform: AAA F.F in angles. Craw 480/19; Syd 1069; RSC 8; Alföldi type XVII, 8. As usual, struck slightly off-center yet with a full portrait. Choice Very Fine. This portrait denarius of Caesar was issued by the moneyer C. Cossutius Maridianus in the month following the assassination of the dictator on the Ides of March 44 BC. Maridianus was one of four moneyers appointed for that year, the others being M. Mettius, L. Aemilius Buca, and P. Sepullius Macer. The obverse inscription includes the title Parens Patriae (Parent of his Country) which Crawford regards as posthumous. Veiled portraits of the dictator appear both before and after the Ides of March. The interesting reverse type shows the moneyer's name arranged in a cruciform pattern with his official titles placed in the angles. A A A F F is abbreviated from IIII VIR A A A F F quattuovir aere argento auro flando feriundo (one of four men for the casting and striking of bronze, silver, and gold). This was the first time that the full title of the moneyer's office had appeared on the coinage of the Roman Republic. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. The Hunter Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,185
Lot 4406		Julius Caesar. AR Denarius (3.9g) Feb.-Mar. 44 BC. Laureate and veiled head of Julius Caesar, right. Reverse: Venus standing left, holding Victory and sceptre. Sear (Imperators) 107d; Craw- 480/13; Syd-1074. Some weakness in the strike. About Very Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 900. The Wolfen Family Foundation Collection; Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, early 1970s. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,265
Lot 4407		Julius Caesar. AE Dupondius (14.9 g), minted in Rome, late 46-early 45 BC, C. Clovius, prefect. Winged and draped bust of Victory right. Reverse: Minerva advancing left, holding trophy over her shoulder, spears and shield, a snake, its head erect, glides left at her feet. Cr.476/1a, Syd.1025, RPC 601. Nice style. Uniform chocolate-brown with earthen green patina. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. The Hunter Collection; Ex-Knobloch collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,898
Lot 4408		Brutus, Imperator, 43-42 BC. Silver Quinarius (1.71g) struck at mint moving with Brutus in southwestern Asia Minor. *L. Sestius, Pro-Quaestor.* L SESTI PRO Q. Diademed, veiled and draped bust of Libertas (Liberty) right. Reverse: Q CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS. Victoria (Victory) advancing right, holding palm frond over her shoulder and wreath. Craw 502/3; Syd 1291; RSC 12. Nice sharp strike with excellent surfaces for the type. Rare. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. Ex RBW Collection; Privately purchased from Spink & Son in Aapril 1988. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,335
Lot 4409		Cn. Domitius L.f. Ahenobarbus, Imperator, 41 BC. Silver Denarius (4.0g). Struck at uncertain mint along the Adriatic or Ionian Sea. Bare head of Ahenobarbus right. Reverse: Military trophy set on prow. Craw 519/2; Syd 1177. Excellent depiction of Ahenobarbus, with obverse and reverse types well-centered. Light iridescent hues. Rare. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,300
Lot 4410		Mark Antony. Silver 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 $242
Lot 4411		Marc Antony and Octavian. Silver Denarius (3.9g) minted at Ephesus, 41 BC. *M. Barbatius Pollio, Quaestor Pro-Praetore. M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C. M BARBAT Q P. Bare head of Antony right. Reverse:* CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C. Bare head of Octavian right. Craw 517/2; Syd 1181. Excellent portraits. Pleasing old cabinet toning. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,530
Lot 4412		Mark Antony and Lucius Antonius. AR Denarius (3.7g) minted at Ephesus, summer 41 BC. Bare head of Marc Antony, right; inscription around. Reverse: Bare head of Lucius Antony, brother of Marc Antony, right; inscription around. Craw- 517/5a; Syd-1185. Very Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 900. The Wolfen Family Foundation Collection; Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, early 1970s. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $920