Syria. Antiochos. Antiochia. 268-261 BC. Æ (3.86g, 3h). SC 351,1; MAST 116 (this coin). Superb dark green patina. Bold portrait. Exceptional for issue. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; former H.A. collection, Tradart 1991 (1) lot 194; Bankhaus Hauck & Aufhäuser 1989 (6) lot 225
What is most unusual and definitive is the quality of the dies of this bronze. Indeed the most skilled engravers appear to have been reserved solely for the precious metal coinage, but this coin displays a highly refined style that is certainly on par with the finest art found on the silver and gold.
Lot 91
Starting price: 200€
Judaea. Jewish War. AD 69-70. Æ Eighth Unit (6.45g, 12h). Meshorer 214; Hendin 1369. Lovely green patina with earthen deposits. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection
Lot 92
Starting price: 200€
Baktria. Agathokles. Commemorative issue for Diodotos II. 185-175 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.82g, 12h). Bopearachchi 14a; SNG ANS 259. Lightly toned. Perfectly centered and struck. Minor marks. Exceptional for issue. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; Giessener Münzhandlung 1999 (96) lot 274
Agathokles issued a series of 'pedigree' dynastic coins, probably with the intent to advertise his lineage and legitimize his rule, linking him to Alexander, Antiochos, Diodotos (the founder of the Bactrian kingdom) and his son, Euthydemos, Demetrios and Pantaleon. He was also the first to use copper-nickel, an alloy technology only known at the time by the Chinese; copper-nickel would not be used again in coinage until the 19th century in the United States.
Lot 93
Starting price: 2000€
Elymais. Kamnaskires III, with Anzaze. Seleucia on the Hedyphon. 82-74 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.93g, 12h). Alram 454; Morgan 4. Attractively toned. Perfectly centered and struck. Two wonderful portraits in high relief. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; Roma Numismatics 2013 (6) lot 701
This coin is one of the finest examples known of one the most obscure coinages of the ancient East. Elymais, in western Persia around Susa, was a minor kingdom that gained its independence from the Seleucids in the 2nd century BC. Here we can see a ruler who is definitely not Greek: he has a long beard, hair bound up on his head with a diadem, and wears elaborate robes; his queen, Anzaze, also has a clearly oriental look. This is certainly one of the most interesting portraits of the late Hellenistic period.
Lot 94
Starting price: 2000€
Persis. Artaxerxes. Persepolis. 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.09g, 9h). Alram 520; Sunrise 562. Old cabinet tone. Perfectly centered and struck. One of the finest known. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; Bank Leu 1987 (42) lot 376
Since the end of the 3rd century BC, Persis had been ruled by local dynasts subject to the Seleucid empire. They held the Persian title of 'frataraka' (governor). Persis struck its own distinctive coinage, with Persic or Aramaic legends, and depicted its rulers wearing the traditional headdress, the kyrbasia. The portrait on this tetradrachm is spectacular in its power and must be a realistic image of Artaxerxes himself.
Lot 95
Starting price: 10000€
Persis. Uncertain king. 2nd century BC. AR Drachm (4.10g, 12h). Alram 551; Sunrise -. Attractively toned. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; former M.B. collection; Busso Peus 1992 (334) lot 537
Lot 96
Starting price: 200€
India. Vima Takto (Soter Megas). AD 80-100. Æ Drachm (2.40g, 12h). Senior B17.1D; Donum Burns 67. Splendid glossy dark patina. Perfectly centered and struck. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; Millon & Associés 2008 (21 May) lot 31
Vima Takto was long known as 'the nameless king', since his coins only showed the inscription 'The King of Kings, Great Saviour'. The obverse, according to Hans Holzer, could depict the radiate bust of Christ, identified by the inscription; this interpretation being reinforced by the fact that the reverse rider - whom Hans Holzer thinks might be Caspar... one of the Three Kings of Christ's Nativity - is holding up a cross. The Soter Megas coinage would thus be a numismatic memory of St. Thomas's spreading of the gospel in India.
Lot 97
Starting price: 400€
Zeugitana. Carthage. 350-300 BC. AV 1/5 Stater (1.44g, 12h). Jenkins-Lewis 134; Dewing 985. Lightly toned. Exceptional for issue. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; Numismatik Lanz 1996 (78) lot 379
The horse is usually considered part of the foundation myth of Carthage. According to Virgil's Aeneid (1.441), the settlers who founded Carthage were told by Juno (Tanit) to establish a new city at the place where they discovered "the head of a proud horse, that ages long their boast might be wealth, luxury and war".
Lot 98
Starting price: 1000€
Zeugitania. Carthage. Lilybaion (?). 350-300 BC. Æ (4.95g, 12h). Strauss 633 (this coin); SNG Copenhagen 1023. Lovely black patina. Perfectly centered and struck. One of the finest known. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; former Maurice Laffaille (1902-1989) collection, Münzen & Medaillen 1991 (76) lot 633
Lot 99
Starting price: 200€
Zeugitania. Carthage. 300-270 BC. Æ (3.86g, 7h). Müller 305; SNG Copenhagen 175. Nice light green patina. Exceptional for issue. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; Münzen & Medaillen 1994 (79) lot 433
Lot 100
Starting price: 200€
Hispania. Castulo. 1st century BC. Æ Semis (4.31g, 6h). SNG Spain 1377; MAST 1 (this coin). Lovely light green patina. Among the finest known. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; former M.B. collection; Numismatik Lanz 1989 (50) lot 6
Lot 101
Starting price: 200€
Calabria. Tarentum. Occupation of Hannibal. 212-209 BC. AR 1/2 Shekel (3.61g, 3h). Vlasto 986; SNG ANS 1272. Lightly toned. Well-centered. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc. From a European private collection
Hannibal used the region around Tarentum as winter quarters during his occupation of southern Italy. He installed his own magistrates (Sokannas does not appear to be a Greek name) and struck coinage based on the Punic half shekel weight.
Lot 102
Starting price: 400€
Calabria. Tarentum. 275-200 BC. Æ (1.87g, 9h). Laffaille 7; SNG ANS 1602. Attractive dark green patina. Unusually well-centered. Extremely fine. From a European private collection
Throughout antiquity, scallops and other hinged shells have symbolized the feminine principle. Many paintings of Venus (Aphrodite), the Roman goddess of love and fertility, included a scallop shell to identify her; this is evident in Botticelli's classically inspired 15th century painting 'The Birth of Venus'.
Lot 103
Starting price: 400€
Lucania. Velia (Hyele). 340-300 BC. Æ (4.43g, 2h). Mangieri -; SNG ANS -. Splendid dark green patina. Good very fine. From a European private collection; Numismatica Ars Classica 2000 (18) lot 41
Lot 104
Starting price: 400€
Lucania. Thourioi. 330-300 BC. Æ (1.52, 6h). Laffaille 13 = Strauss 60 (this coin). Lovely dark green patina. Exceptional for issue. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; former Maurice Laffaille (1902-1989) collection, Münzen & Medaillen 1991 (76) lot 60
Lot 105
Starting price: 200€
Lucania. Thourioi. 280-260 BC. Æ (2.21g, 5h). Strauss 63; SNG ANS 1201. Superb brown-green patina. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; Laurens Schulman 2004 (30) lot 2558
Lot 106
Starting price: 200€
Bruttium. Petelia. 215-210 BC. Æ Sextans (8.29g, 12h). Attianese 9; HN Italy 2543. Glossy dark green patina. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; Italo Vecchi 1998 (10) lot 93; Giessener Münzhandlung 1997 (84) lot 5109
Lot 107
Starting price: 400€
Bruttium. Petelia. 215-210 BC. Æ Quadrans (4.26g, 12h). Strauss 92; SNG ANS 611. Lovely green patina. Extremely fine. From a European private collection
Lot 108
Starting price: 200€
Sicily. Kamarina. 420-405 BC. Æ Tetras (3.17g, 11h). Calciati 28; Laffaille 54. Splendid light green patina. Good very fine. From a European private collection; Laurens Schulman 2004 (30) lot 2594
Lot 109
Starting price: 100€
Sicily. Panormos. 208-180 BC. Æ (2.65g, 12h). Calciati 42; SNG München 779. Dark brown-green patina. Good very fine. From a European private collection; Numismatik Lanz 2003 (117) lot 113
Lot 110
Starting price: 100€
Sicily. Katane. 412-410 BC. Æ Tetras (2.40g, 8h). Calciati 1; SNG ANS 1272. Superb dark green patina. Extremely fine. From a European private collection
Lot 111
Starting price: 200€
Sicily. Katane. 410-400 BC. Æ Onkia (0.84g, 11h). Calciati 2; SNG ANS -. Dark brown patina. Very fine. From a European private collection
Lot 112
Starting price: 100€
Sicily. Himera. 430-420 BC. Æ Hemilitron (21.13g, 2h). Calciati 24; SNG Morcom 597. Light green patina. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; former Tony Hardy collection, Triton 2005 (8) lot 59
Lot 113
Starting price: 400€
Sicily. Himera. 415-410 BC. Æ Hemilitron (3.86g, 3h). Calciati 35; Laffaille 53. Splendid glossy dark green patina. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection; Numismatik Lanz 2003 (117) lot 105
Lot 114
Starting price: 200€
Sicily. Zankle. 500-490 BC. AR Obol (0.67g). Gielow 71; SNG Lloyd 1078. Old cabinet tone. Exceptional for issue. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection
Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BC, Zankle (Messana) was located on a sickle-shaped promontory on the Strait of Messana from which it derived its name; 'zanklion' was a native Sikel word for 'crescent' or 'sickle'. The obverse depicts a dolphin leaping within a crescent-shaped enclosure representing the harbour and serving as a punning symbol of the city’s name.
Lot 115
Starting price: 1000€
Sicily. Zankle. 500-490 BC. AR Hemilitra (0.32g). Gielow -; SNG Lloyd -. Attractively toned. Exceptional for issue. Choice extremely fine. From a European private collection
Lot 116
Starting price: 1000€
Sicily. Selinos. 450-440 BC. Æ Onkia (4.35g, 12h). Calciati 10; MAST 45 (this coin). Lovely dark green patina. Extremely fine. From a European private collection; Tradart 1998 (8) lot 27
The city of Selios used a leaf of wild parsley, selinon in Greek, as its badge - a typical example of the way Greek states used what are known as punning types to identify themselves on their coinages.
Lot 117
Starting price: 200€
Sicily. Entella. Campanian Mercenaries. 370-350 BC. Æ Litra (6.24g, 7h). Calciati 9; Laffaille -. Nice glossy green patina. Extremely fine. From a European private collection
Lot 118
Starting price: 1000€
Sicily. Syracuse. 420-400 BC. Æ (6.35g, 9h). Calciati 45; Laffaille 76. Superb dark green patina. Good very fine. From a European private collection; Tradart 1994 (4) lot 24; The Numismatic Auction 1982 (1) lot 30.
Lot 119
Starting price: 200€
Sicily. Syracuse. 334-317 BC. AR Hemidrachm (1.30g, 6h). SNG ANS 514; SNG München 1130. Old cabinet tone. Rough surfaces. Good very fine. From a European private collection; The New-York Sale 2007 (14) lot 74; Triton 1999 (3) lot 304; former Athos Moretti (1907-1993) collection
