Auktion Nr. 156

Münzen der Griechen
MACEDON. Akanthos. Tetradrachm (Circa 370-360 BC). Alexios, magistrate.

Obv: AΛEΞIOΣ.
Lion right, attacking bull crouching left.
Rev: AKANΘION.
Quadripartite square with granulated raised fields; all within incuse square.

Desneux 151; HGC 3.1, 391.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 14.31 g.
Diameter: 27 mm.

Münzen der Griechen
★ Near Mint State ★
KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‚the Great‘ (336-323 BC). GOLD Stater. Amphipolis. Possibly lifetime issue.

Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent.
Rev: AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ.
Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis Control: Kantharos in left field.

Price 168.

Already with Philip II the occupation of the Mount Pangaion region with its rich gold mines had made possible the abundant emission of gold coins, something that until then had been throughout Greece rather rare and linked to extraordinary circumstances or moments of crisis. Alexander, who imposed a single coinage throughout his vast empire, was able to issue Staters and their fractions in gold, using the Attic weight as the unit of measure. On the Staters the head of the goddess Athena with Corinthian helmet was depicted on the obverse, while a winged Nike was reproduced on the reverse. On silver tetradrachms, on the other hand, the head of Herakles with lion skin was depicted on the obverse and Zeus seated on a throne on the reverse (Phidian model). Toward the end of his reign there is an assimilation of the ruler with Herakles. The practice, derived from the Eastern world of reproducing the portrait of the ruler on the coin, represents a change with Alexander’s coinage. But as if the human figure did not dare to suddenly replace that of the gods, the image is clothed with religious content, through its deification or identification with the deity. Even after his death for a long time Tetradrachms with the effigy of Alexander continued to be issued by his successors. The Macedonian king had the possibility to exploit for his coinage a large amount of precious metal from the vast empire he had conquered. The extremely rich mines scattered throughout this territory also made his successors self-sufficient. The coin from that time became a symbol of the ruler’s power and absolute authority; no longer protected by the image of deities, it became an instrument of propaganda and power.

Condition: Near mint state.

Weight: 8.62 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Kaiser
★ Outstanding Galba ★
GALBA (68-69). Denarius. Rome.

Obv: IMP SER GALBA AVG.
Bare head right.
Rev: SPQR / OB / C S.
Legend in three lines, all within wreath (corona civica).

RIC² 167.

Condition: Extremely fine; attractive toning.

Weight: 3.09 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Kaiser
ANTONINUS PIUS (138-161). GOLD Aureus. Rome.

Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII.
Laureate head right.
Rev: COS IIII.
Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia.

RIC 177d; Calicó 1502.

Condition: Good very fine.

Weight: 6.65 g.
Diameter: 19 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Kaiser
GORDIAN III (238-244). GOLD Aureus. Rome.

Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG.
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: FIDES MILITVM.
Fides standing left, holding signum and transverse sceptre.

RIC 7; Calicò 3196.

Rare.

Born to a daughter of Gordian I, sister of Gordian II, because of the young age at which he came to occupy the throne (13), Gordian did not rule directly, but the Senate did so for him. Gordian had become prince because the Senate needed to placate an uprising of the traditionalist urban plebs, bound to the dynastic ideal, and in order to take advantage of his family’s wealth. Moreover, the praetorians had acclaimed him emperor just to show the Senate that they were the ones who decided who to put on the throne. Among the first moves was the dismissal of the legion in Africa because it had supported Capellianus and led to the deaths of Gordian I and II, who were deified. During his relatively long tenure there were several problems to deal with. In 240 Sabinianus, elected caesar in Carthage, prepared to make war on him, but was stopped by the governor of Mauretania. In the north the barbarians were making constant raids and sacking villages and towns. Gordian was too young to face these problems, but fortunately for him he could count on the diplomatic and military skill of Timesitheus, who had become prefect of the praetorium and granted him his daughter, Tranquillina, in marriage in 241. Rome succeeded in repelling the Persians of Shapur I in 243 thanks to Timesitheus, but on his death he was replaced as prefect of the praetorium by Marcus Julius Philip known as ‚the Arab‘. The latter, however, was not satisfied with this title but aimed at the throne, and he convinced the army that they needed an adult prince and not a boy. Gordian showed maturity and offered to cede the throne to Philip and become his caesar, but he was killed in 244. The Senate was informed that he had died of wounds sustained in a battle against the Persians. His body was sent to Rome where he was deified.

Condition: Near mint state.

Weight: 5.19 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.

Münzen der Völkerwanderung
★ Ex Gorny & Mosch 1995 ★
MIGRATION PERIOD. Uncertain Germanic tribes. GOLD Solidus imitating Theodosius II (5th century).

Obv: OH THEOOOSIVS PP AVC.
Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield with horseman motif.
Rev: SΛLVS ΠΞI PVBLICΞ.
Theodosius II, enthroned, and Valentinian III, standing facing, each holding mappa and cruciform sceptre; star above.

Cf. RIC X 233; cf. CNG 90, lot 1983 (for rev.).

Very rare.

Ex Gorny & Mosch 73 (1995), lot 545

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 4.19 g.
Diameter: 21 mm.

Münzen des Mittelalters
HUNGARY. Sigismund (1387-1437). GOLD Aranyforint – Goldgulden (1398-1401). Unknown mint.

Obv: + SIGISMVҺDI D G R VҺGARIЄ.
Coat-of-arms of Hungary (stripes) and Bohemia (lions).
Rev: S LADISLAVS RЄX.
St. Ladislaus standing facing, holding axe and orb; arms to left, bird to right.

Huszár 573; Frynas H.27.2.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 3.57 g.
Diameter: 21 mm.

Münzen der Neuzeit
BELGIUM. Jean III (1312-1355). GOLD Chaise d’or à l’écu. Antwerp.

Obv: LVDOVICVS DЄI GRA ROMANORVM IMP.
Jean seated facing on throne, holding sword and resting on coat of arms.
Rev: XPC VINCIT XPC RЄGNAT XPC IMPЄRAT.
Floriate cross within quadrilobe.

Delmonte 223.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 4.40 g.
Diameter: 29 mm.

Münzen der Neuzeit
GERMANY. Saxony. Friedrich III, with Johann and Georg (1486-1525). Taler. Annaberg.

Obv: + FRIDERI IOHAN GEORGI.
Crowned bust of Friedrich right, holding sword over shoulder; four coat of arms around.
Rev: + MONE ARGE DVCVM SAXO.
Busts of Johann and Georg facing one another; four coat of arms around.

Davenport 9709; Schnee 18.

Condition: Good very fine.

Weight: 29.01 g.
Diameter: 40 mm.

Münzen des Neuzeit
GERMANY. Teutonic Order. Maximilian I (1590-1618). 2 Talers (1614). Hall.

Obv: MAX D G AR AV D B MA PRVSS ADMI.
Maximilian standing facing, holding sword, between two arms.
Rev: Maximilian on horseback right, holding lance; 15 coat-of-arms around.

Davenport 5854; KM 30.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 57.11 g.
Diameter: 46 mm.

Münzen der Neuzeit
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE. Maximilian I (1486-1519). Guldiner. Hall.

Obv: MAXIMILIANVS DEI GRA ROMANOR REX SE AVGVST.
Crowned and armored bust right, holding sceptre and sword.
Rev: XP AC A REG R HER Q ARCHID AV PLVRI EVROP PVI PN POTETI.
Five shields of Hungary, Tyrol, Austria, Burgundy and Habsburg.

Davenport 8002.

Rare.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 31.61 g.
Diameter: 42 mm.

Münzen der Neuzeit
HUNGARY. Matthias II (1608-1619). GOLD Florin (1612-KB). Kremnitz.

Obv: MATTHI II D G HVN BO REX.
Matthias standing right, wearing crown, holding orb and sceptre.
Rev: AR AV DV BV MA MO CO TY.
Madonna seated facing on crescente, holding infant Christ.

Huszár 1082; KM 37.

Condition: Mint State.

Weight: 3.46 g.
Diameter: 23 mm.

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