Auktion Nr. 149

Münzen der Kelten
★ Spectacular Celtic Stater ★
CELTIC. Vindelici? GOLD Stater (3rd century BC). Mint in Southern Germany?.

Obv: Celticized head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet.
Rev: Eagle standing and feeding on beheaded body of a Celtic Warrior.

Kellner 2184; Macho & Chlapovič 33, lot 55 (same dies).v

Extremely rare.

An exceptional and interesting specimen of a very rare Celtic issue. The obverse type is clearly imitating Alexander III of Macedon, while the reverse is an independent Celtic Creation. It strongly calls to mind the Cult of the Head. Severed heads are often depicted in Celtic art while headless warriors have been found at the famous excavation of the sanctuary of Ribemont-sur-Ancre / France.

Condition: Near extremely fine.

Weight: 5.90 g.
Diameter: 17 mm.

Münzen der Kelten
CENTRAL EUROPE. Noricum. GOLD Stater (Circa 3rd-2nd century BC).

Obv: Celticized helmeted head of Roma right.
Rev: Winged stag left.

Forrer II, pl. 13, 2.

Extremely rare

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 5.95 g.
Diameter: 16 mm.

Münzen der Griechen
★ Phantastic Lysmiachos ★
KINGS OF THRACE (Macedonian). Lysimachos (305-281 BC). Tetradrachm. Lysimacheia.

Obv: Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon.
Rev: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΛYΣIMAXOY.
Athena seated left, holding Nike and spear over shoulder, resting elbow on shield. Controls: to inner left, lion head left; monogram on throne.

Thompson 16; Müller 51; HGC 3.2, 1750a.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 16.85 g.
Diameter: 32 mm.

Münzen der Griechen
★ Ex Hirsch 1971 ★
LOKRIS. Lokri Opuntii. Stater (Circa 370-360 BC).

Obv: Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears, earring and pearl necklace.
Rev: OΠONTIΩN.
Ajax advancing right on rocks, holding shield decorated with coiled serpent; round shield below.

BCD Lokris 15; HGC 4, 989.

Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger 71 (1971), lot 129

Condition: Good very fine.

Weight: 12.00 g.
Diameter: 23 mm.

Münzen der Griechen
★ Ex Gorny & Mosch 2011 ★
IONIA. Uncertain. EL Hekte – 1/6 Stater (Circa 600-550 BC).

Obv: Facing head of lion or panther.
Rev: Two square punches.

Weidauer 160; Boston MFA 1753; SNG Kayhan 711.

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 199 (2011), lot 400

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 2.38 g.
Diameter: 10 mm.

Münzen der Griechen
CARIA. Antioch ad Maeander. Tetradrachm (Early-Mid 1st century BC). Eunikos, magistrate.

Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev: ΑΝΤΙΟΧΕΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΩ / ΜΑΙΑΝΔΡΩ / ΕΥΝΙΚΟΣ.
Zebu bull standing left, head facing; to left, female standing right, raising hand to her chin; all within wreath.

Thonemann Group A, 17.g-h; HN Online 2069.

Rare

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 16.14 g.
Diameter: 27 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Republik
★ Outstanding Grade ! ★
JULIUS CAESAR. Denarius (49 BC). Military mint traveling with Caesar.

Obv: CAESAR.
Elephant advancing right, trampling upon horned serpent.
Rev: Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis and apex.

Crawford 443/1; CRI 9.

Condition: Near mint state; lustrous.

Weight: 3.80 g.
Diameter: 19 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Kaiser
★ Unique Medusa Type ★
HADRIAN (117-138). GOLD Aureus. Rome.

Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS.
Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: COS III.
Hadrian on horseback right, raising hand.

RIC² 784; Calicó 1218.

Hadrian was born in Italica or Rome in 76 AD to an influential family; his grandfather had been a member of the senate. Having soon been orphaned, Hadrian was entrusted to his cousin Trajan, who acted as his tutor and granted him in marriage one of his great-granddaughters, Sabina, in 100 AD. It was therefore quite natural that on Trajan’s death Hadrian should succeed him, although he had never adopted him. In fact at the prince’s death the senate received letters from Trajan mentioning Hadrian’s adoption, but according to Cassius Dio they were signed by his widow Plotina. Probably Lucius Licinius Sura, his future and greatest general, also made great efforts for Trajan to consider Hadrian’s candidacy. Hadrian is remembered as a literate monarch, a lover of Greek letters and neosophistic philosophy. The new emperor had a very different political conception from that of his predecessor, beginning with the renouncing of the expansionism so much desired by Trajan in order to focus more on the defense of imperial borders, as evidenced by the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. His reign was also marked by the travels he embarked on between 121 and 132, a way of learning about and expressing respect for every corner of the empire. Indeed, he visited numerous regions and garrisons, reserving special interest for the armies and the discipline of the soldiers. Despite his efforts to avoid any armed conflict, Hadrian had to deal with a Jewish revolt that erupted because he had renamed Jerusalem as the Colonia Aelia Capitolina, after his family name, for having a temple dedicated to Jupiter Capitolinus erected there and for forbidding circumcision, a custom he perceived as barbaric, despite not being hostile to Judaism. The revolt was very bloody and led by Simon bar Kochba, who lost his life in the last battle. In internal politics Hadrian gave his best, eliminating unnecessary expenses and undertaking magnificent public works, not only in Rome. He also asked his jurists to collect all edicts that would ensure greater justice for the weaker, but went to the disadvantage of the Senate, which responded with conspiracies. Hadrian managed to escape these attempts and sent all the conspirators to death, earning himself a very bad reputation. For this he publicly apologized and engaged in a series of food concessions to the people, forgave a huge amount of debt, and promised not to use any more violence against the senators. Promise that he did not keep, however, as a result of further conspiracy attempts. In 136 he designated Lucius Aelius Caesar as his successor, but he died two years later. Hadrian, having failed to have children by Sabina, was thus forced to adopt Antoninus Pius, asking him to adopt in turn two other young men, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, son of the late Aelius. He died in 138 after a long and painful illness

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 7.28 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Kaiser
★ Gordian II ‚Africanus‘ ★
GORDIAN II (238). Sestertius. Rome.

Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG.
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VIRTVS AVGG / S – C.
Virtus standing left, holding spear and resting hand on shield.

RIC 8.

Rare

Son of Gordian I, he was emperor with his father for a few weeks. The mother is unknown, possibly a niece of Herod Atticus. They came from a wealthy family of the equestrian order related to several senators. The name Gordian suggests an Anatolian origin, from the city of Gordius. It seems that Gordian accepted the empire in old age only on the condition that his son would be associated with it, in order to succeed him. In AD 237 Gordian II was in Africa as legate under his father’s command. After a rebellion in Africa in 238, mainly because of the exorbitant taxes imposed by Maximinus, Gordian I accepted the imperium offered by the army and also the title of Africanus. He entered Carthage acclaimed by the crowd and politicians, while in Rome the prefect of the Praetorians was assassinated. The Senate, happy to deprive Maximinus, accepted the new emperor, and most of the Provinces sided with him. However, Capelius, governor of Numidia and supporter of Maximinus Thrax, invaded the province of Africa with the Legio III Augusta, composed of veterans. Gordian II, who had no trained or well-prepared soldiers, was defeated and killed in the battle of Carthage. Following the death of his son, Gordian I committed suicide by hanging himself with a belt, after just twenty days of reign.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 19.88 g.
Diameter: 32 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Kaiser
★ The Farnese Hercules ★
GORDIAN III (238-244). GOLD Aureus. Rome.

Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG.
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI.
The Farnese Hercules: statue of Hercules right, holding Apples of the Hesperides and lion skin, and leaning upon club.

RIC 108; Calicó 3242.

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; luster in field.

Weight: 4.33 g.
Diameter: 21 mm.

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

Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG.
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA.
Diana Lucifera standing right, holding long torch with both hands.

RIC 121; Calicó 3191.

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: Extremely fine.

Weight: 5.07 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.

Münzen der Römischen Kaiser
★ Superb Siliqua ★
CONSTANTIUS GALLUS (Caesar, 351-354). Siliqua. Sirmium.

Obv: D N CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES.
Bare head right.
Rev: VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X / •SIRM.
Legend in four lines within wreath.

RIC 18.

With the famous Battle of Mursa in 351 Constantius II inflicted a severe defeat on Magnentius, who two years later killed himself along with his brother Decentius, caesar of the West. This marked the beginning of a united kingdom for the winner, who at that point needed a caesar with a view to dynastic succession. Constantius appointed his cousin Constantius Gallus, who married Constantina, sister of the emperor and widow of Hanniballianus. Constantius Gallus was an able general who had brought down several Persian revolts. He had made himself hated not so much for his despotic ways as for his pro-poor monetary policy, in contrast to that initiated by Constantine and continued by Constantius II in favor of gold coinage and the wealthier classes. This led to his eventual assassination by a conspiracy of the Antioch aristocracy and his ‚damnatio memoriae‘. In his place in 355 Constantius II appointed Julian, who was destined to become emperor with the appellation “Apostate”.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 3.53 g.
Diameter: 22 mm.

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