Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 91

June 2016 Pre-Long Beach

Roman Republic Coinage

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1938		Anonymous. Æ Partial Disk-shaped Aes Formatum (229.63 g), 4th century BC. Mounded obverse, flat reverse. ICC pp. 26-8, pl. 84; Haeberlin p. 4, pl. 2, 7. Heavy concretions and deposits over green patina. Otherwise virtually as made. While native sources for precious metals were scarce in Italy, mining of bronze stretched back into prehistoric times. Small bronze lumps, called aes rude, are regularly found in ceremonial settings thought to be votive deposits offered to various divinities, and are also found in hoards that suggest a use in exchange. Even before Rome developed a uniform coinage system in the early third century B.C. it had already codified the rates of exchange for oxen and sheep in bronze. As bronze was traded by weight during this period, bronze hoards often contain everyday objects such as axes, adzes, weights, various animal shapes, and large cake-shaped disks, frequently broken into smaller chunks as is the case here. Haeberlin called these items aes formatum, and they served and perhaps inspired later aes grave issues. Estimated Value $300 - 400 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $353
Lot 1939		Carthaginian Occupation. Electrum 3/8 Shekel (2.42 g), ca 216-211 BC Choi. Struck at Bruttium. Janiform female head wreathed with corn. Reverse: Zeus holding thunderbolt and scepter, standing in quadriga right, driven by Nike, who stands beside him, holding reins. SNG ANS 146; Historia Numorum Italy 2010; Jenkins-Lewis 487; Robinson, Second p. V, 3 (Capua). Well struck for this very rare issue. Choice Very Fine. This rare issue was previously attributed to Capua in Campania, but has now been conclusively reattributed to the Carthaginians in Bruttium. These coins were struck in Carthage and transported to South Italy for Hannibal's use. (see G.K. Jenkins, Studi per Laura Breglia, Parte I, General-Numismaticaa Greca. Bollettino di Numismatica, Supplemento al No. 4, Rome, 1987, pp. 223-4. Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000 Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 10, April 9, 1997 Zurich (Switzerland) lot 418. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1940		L. Saufeius. Silver Denarius (3.24 g), 152 BC Superb EF. Rome. Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X. Reverse: L SAVF below, ROMA in exergue, Victory driving galloping biga right. Crawford 204/1; Sydenham 384; Saufeia 1. Lovely iridescent toning. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $676
Lot 1941		M. Aburius M.f. Geminus. Silver Denarius (3.86 g), 132 BC Superb Mint State. Rome. GEM behind, Helmeted head of Roma right; below chin, denomination mark. Reverse: M (AB)(VR)I below, ROMA in exergue, Sol, holding whip and reins, driving galloping quadriga right. Crawford 250/1; Sydenham 487; Aburia 6. Superb Mint State. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,704
Lot 1942		Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius. Silver Denarius (3.68 g), 81 BC Nearly Mint State. Mobile military mint with Sulla's army in northern Italy. Diademed head of Pietas right; to right, stork standing right. Reverse IMPER, jug and lituus within laurel wreath. Crawford 374/2; Sydenham 750; Caecilia 44. Well struck, well centered and lustrous. Nearly Mint State. Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius came from one of the most important and wealthiest families of Rome. Beginning in the 3rd century BC, his family held numerous consulships, tribunates, censorships and military commands. His father, Q. Caecilius Metellus Numidicus, was the chief commander in the Jugurthine War in Numidia until Marius displaced him, and was later censor until driven into exile by Marius. The obverse of this coin portrays the goddess Pietas and alludes to the moneyer's cognomen, Pius. The moneyer acquired the honorable title from the people of Rome, whom he had beseeched in order to secure the restoration from exile of his father. The reverse probably refers to an unattested augurate of the moneyer's father, but may also allude to Sulla's holding of the augurate in ca. 82 BC (cf. Crawford p. 374). Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000 Ex Nomos 5 (25 October 2011), 219; Ex Exceptional Roman Denarii Coll. #3030. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1943		C. Poblicius Q.f. Silver Denarius (3.65 g), 80 BC Mint State. Rome. ROMA behind, draped bust of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet ornamented with plumes on sides; above, O. Reverse C POBLICI Q F, Hercules standing left, strangling the Nemean lion; between his feet, club; in left field, bow and quiver; above, O. Crawford 380/1; Sydenham 768; Poblicia 9. Boldly struck, well centered and lustrous, all delicately toned. Mint State. Although the moneyer is unattested except for his coins, his family is well known for having built the small Aventine road, the Clivus Poblicius, as well as the temple of Flora, whose games they instituted in 241 BC. The types chosen by the moneyer for his coins should probably be viewed in light of Sulla's victories, but possibly there is a family connection as well. The reverse type showing Hercules strangling the Nemean lion may allude to the moneyer's family origins at Cora, where there was a famous temple to Hercules, and from Cora even further back to Argos and the valley of Nemea where Hercules killed the lion. The Phrygian helmet worn by Roma seems to be a simple artistic feature, with no further significance other than perhaps reflecting an awareness of Trojan origins. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000 Ex Künker 174 (9 September 2010), 534; Ex Exceptional Roman Denarii Coll. #3031. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,939
Lot 1944		P. Sulpicius Galba. Silver Denarius (3.86 g), 69 BC EF. Rome. S C behind, veiled head of Vesta right. Reverse: AE CVR across field, P GALB in exergue, knife, simpulum, and ornamented axe. Crawford 406/1; Sydenham 838; Sulpicia 6. Beautifully toned. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 900 Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $494
Lot 1945		L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus and L. Scribonius Libo. Silver Denarius (4.84 g), 62. Rome. PAVLLVS LEPIDVS behind and above, CONCORD before, diademed and veiled head of Concordia right. Reverse PVTEAL SCRIBON above, LIBO in exergue, garlanded well-head decorated with two lyres and hammer. Crawford 417/1a; Sydenham 927; Aemilia 11. Boldly struck, lustrous and lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $700 - 800 Ex Tkalec (27 October 2011), 152; Ex Exceptional Roman Denarii Coll. #3047. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1946		L. Roscius Fabatus. Silver Denarius (3.88 g), 59 BC Superb EF. Rome. L ROSCI below, head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat's skin headdress; behind, uncertain symbol. Reverse: FABATI in exergue, female standing right, feeding serpent erect before her; in left field, uncertain symbol. Crawford 412/1 (symbols 13); Sydenham 915; Roscia 3. Iridescent tone. A marvelous example with needle sharp details. Superb Extremely Fine. The types of Juno Sospita and the female feeding the serpent refer to the moneyer's Lanuvine origin. Cicero (de Nat. Deor. 1.29) describes the peculiar garb and attributes of Juno Sospita, while both Propertius (8.4.3) and Aelian (NA 11.16) discuss the role of the serpent in the oracle located in the sacred grove attached to Juno Sospita's temple at Lanuvim. In the religious rites, a virgin fed the reptile fruits and cakes, which caused the oracle to speak. Failure of the oracle to pronounce was, of course, proof of a tainted chastity. Estimated Value $800 - 900 Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline; Ex Giessener Munzhandlung Dieter Gorny GmbH 96, June 7, 1999 Munich (Germany) lot 421. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,528
Lot 1947		Q. Servilius Caepio Brutus. Silver Denarius (3.99 g), 54 BC EF. Rome. BRVT[VS], bare head of L. Junius Brutus right. Reverse: AHALA, bare head of Caius Servilius Ahala right. Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; Junia 30. Both portraits are outstanding. Excellent metal, a bit off-center. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $940
Lot 1948		Q. Servilius Caepio Brutus. Silver Denarius (4.14 g), 54 BC. Rome. BRVTVS, bare head of L. Junius Brutus right. Reverse: AHALA, bare head of Caius Servilius Ahala right. Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; Junia 30. NGC grade AU; Strike: 3/5, Surface: 5/5. Estimated Value $700 - 800 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $881
Lot 1949		L. Plautius Plancus. Silver Denarius (4.09 g), 47 BC. Rome. L PLAVTIVS below, Mask of Medusa with disheveled hair facing, serpents at sides of face. Reverse: [PLANCVS] below, Aurora flying right, head slightly left, holding reins and conducting the four horses of the sun. Crawford 453/1a; HCRI 29; Sydenham 959; Plautia 15. Area of weakness on the obverse from 1 to 6 o'clock. NGC grade Ch AU; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimated Value $600 - 800 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $646
Lot 1950		C. Vibius Varus. Silver Denarius (3.73g), 42 BC Superb EF. Laureate head of Liber right wearing ive-wreath. Reverse: VARVS Panther left springing up towards garlanded altar on which rests mask and against which rests thyrsus; in exergue, C VIBIVS. Syd. 1138; Sear Imperators 192; Crawford 494/36. Well centered on a full size flan and beautifully toned with natural antique iridescent tones. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300 Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold