16-09-2014 – 01-01-1970
Webshop September
New Coins added to Nomos Webshop
Many new coins have been added to the Nomos webshop. Aficionados of wild boars will find a pair of very serious looking ones on obols of Kyzikos and Phokis. They remind us that ancient Greek artists took great pride in accurate representations of the animals that lived in the forests and fields, and on the hills and mountains that were near to the cities and towns of the ancient world.
14366. MACEDON, Neapolis. Circa 500-480 BC. Stater (Silver, 20mm, 9.87 g). SNG ANS 418. SNG Oxford 2320. Svoronos pl. IX, 37. An impressive example with a magnificent head. Sharply struck and well centered. A few minor die flaws on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine. Price: 14,500 CHF.
There is also an absolutely marvelous stater from Macedonian Neapolis, which bears a striking head of a gorgon, one of the daemonic creatures so dear to the world of Greek mythology. A rather elegant denarius issued by Octavian bears a figure of Victory on a prow on the obverse, with Octavian himself driving a triumphal chariot on the reverse. This coin clearly refers to Agrippa and Octavian’s famous victory over Antony at Actium, an epoch-making event that had occurred less than a year before this coin was struck (the obverse is reminiscent of the 3rd century BC Victory of Samothrace, one of the glories of the Louvre). Another lovely denarius is one of Trajan with a reverse type of the personification of the Via Traiana, the road Trajan built in 109 that provided a rapid connection between Beneventum and Brundisium. The left-facing heroic bust of Trajan on the slightly earlier and very rare denarius of Trajan that preceeds this one provides one of the finest portraits of Trajan to appear on a denarius.
14196.
BITHYNIA, Herakleia Pontika. 4th century BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 11mm, 1.26 g 2). SNG Stancomb 812. SNG von Aulock 354. A magnificent example with a most elegant head of Herakles. Perfectly toned and struck. A beautiful coin in every regard with an impressive pedigree going back to the early 20th century. Good extremely fine. Price: 3,250 CHF.
Ex Tradart, 18 November 1993, 88. From the Richad Cyrill Lockett collection and that of Prof. S. Pozzi, ex Naville I, 14 March 1921, 2137.
14237.
14198.
14367.
Octavian, Denarius (Silver, 20mm, 3.95 g 10), uncertain Italian mint, 30 BC. BMC 617. BN 98. Cohen 115. Hirmer pl. 32, 22. RIC 264. A spectacular example perfectly struck on both sides on a full and massive flan and with an old cabinet tone. Extremely fine.
Ex Tradart, 12 December 1991, 242 and Leu 20, 25-26 April 1978, 197 (there purchased from Galerie des monnaies Düsseldorf).
This very attractive coin has the toning that comes from a long collecting history, surely beginning well before its first known auction appearance.
14243.
Nero, AD 54-68. Dupondius (Orichalcum, 29mm, 16.77 g 7), Lugdunum, 65. BMC 336. RIC 402. A lovely example nicely struck with a historically significant countermark. Reverse slightly off-centered, otherwise, very fine.
This countermark was most likely applied to coins of Nero in Gallia Lugdunensis either by the administration of Vindex or that of Galba between March and June of AD 68.
The Macellum Magnum was Nero’s great provision-market probably dating from AD 59. This magnificent structure, originally occupying the middle of a square lined with porticoes and shops, was located on the Caelian Hill. It survived in its original state until the late 4th century when its dilapidated condition necessitated a major reconstruction. During the turbulent 5th century the building again fell into partial ruin and in the latter part of the century it was transformed under Pope Simplicius (468-482) into the church of S. Stefano Rotondo.
14239.
Titus, AD 79-81. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.48 g 6), Rome, 80. BMC 51. BN 43. Cohen 316. RIC 23 b. A marvelous piece of fine style with a lovely cabinet tone. One almost invisible scratch in the right reverse field, otherwise, extremely fine. Price: 1,250 CHF.
Ex Bank Leu 71, 24 October 1997, 341.
The reverse of this coin refers to the festivities held to mark the completion of the Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheatre. This piece shows the sacred chair used to represent Jupiter’s presence among the audience at the games there; the following honors one of the great goddesses, probably Vesta. For a discussion of this type, see B. L. Damsky, The Throne and Curule Chair Types of Titus and Domitian, SNR 74 (1995).
14710.
Trajan, AD 98-117. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.10 g 7), Rome, 104-107. BMC p. 60, note. Cohen 394f. RIC 185. cf. Woytek 217 q. Very rare. A beautiful masterpiece of the finest style. Boldly struck and with a lovely iridescent tone. Extremely fine and probably one of the most impressive Imperial silver coins struck by Trajan. Price: 6,500 CHF.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 38, 21 March 2007, 50.
14241.
Trajan, AD 98-117. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.24 g 8), Rome, 112-114. BMC 487. Cohen 648. RIC 266. Sharply struck and lightly toned. Extremely fine. Price: 975 CHF.
This coin commemorates Trajan’s construction of the route from Beneventum to Brundisium. According to ancient sources it was paid by the emperor’s personal funds. Strabo, one of the most important Greek geographers and historians, tells us that people saved a whole day of travel using the Via Traiana instead of using the old Via Appia.
13758.
Hadrian. AD 117-138. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.54 g 6), Rome, 126. BMC 344 var. Hill 200. RIC 154 var. Rare. An elegant coin, of splendid style and beautifully toned. Good extremely fine. Price: 2,750 CHF.
This type is known in two varieties: in one Minerva’s shield is adorned with a gorgoneion, and in the other, as this one, with a star. The present type is much scarcer and this may well be the finest example known.
13892.
14598.
13767.
Maximianus Herculius. First reign, AD 286-305. Argenteus (Silver, 17mm, 3.29 g 6), Ticinum, 294. Jelocnik 37. RIC VI, 16b. Beautifully toned and well struck. Good extremely fine. Price: 1,250 CHF.
From a Swiss collection and from the Sisak hoard of 1953.
14235.
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