Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4
Date: 2025-01-14 15:00:00 (3 weeks from now)
Lots: 1152
Total starting: $ 3,093,540.00
In this auction, Numistats has matched 120 coins, providing AI-powered purchase recommendations and detailed analysis. View more.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 788
AI Rec
Magnentius. AD 350-353. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.63 g, 6h). Treveri (Trier) mint. 1st emission, 18 January-27 February AD 350 . IM CAE MAGN ENTIVS AVG, bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA ‘ AVG ‘ LIB ‘ ROMANOR, Victory, draped, cradling palm frond in left arm, standing right, and Libertas, draped, holding transverse vindicta in left hand, standing left, both draped and together holding a trophy set on long staff between them with their right hands; TR. RIC VIII 247; Bastien 7; Depeyrot 8/1; Biaggi 2197; Mazzini 46v. Toned, with some luster, minor scratches and marks. Good VF.
From the Ramrodivs Collection. Ex Berk BBS 185 (9 July 2013), lot 32.
Born around A.D. 303 to a British father and Frankish mother, Flavius Magnus Magnentius showed enough talent to rise high in the Roman army. In the 340s, the western emperor Constans appointed Magnentius as commander in his personal guard. Whatever Magnentius’ merits, gratitude was not among them, for in January AD 350, he staged a successful coup deposing his benefactor. Constans, who had made himself unpopular with the army, attempted to flee to his brother Constantius II, emperor of the East, but was captured and executed. After securing control of Italy, Magnentius attempted to negotiate with Constantius, but the eastern emperor would hear none of it. Taking a year to marshal his forces, Constantius struck in the summer of AD 351, but Magnentius defeated his initial thrust into Italy and went on the offensive, seizing the strategic town of Siscia and forcing a major engagement in the Balkans. The clash at Mursa on September 28, AD 351 proved one of the costliest battles in Roman history, leaving the ground strewn with 55,000 dead. Magnentius fared much the worse and retreated into Gaul. Constantius took his time in pursuit, invading Italy the following year and methodically tightening the noose around Magentius, who was forced to take refuge in the city of Lugdunum. Rather than surrender, Magnentius fell on his sword in August of AD 353. Although a usurper, Magentius had a long-lasting impact on the Roman Empire through the agency of his young widow, Justina, who later married Valentinian I and became a lynchpin in future dynastic politics.
From the Ramrodivs Collection. Ex Berk BBS 185 (9 July 2013), lot 32.
Born around A.D. 303 to a British father and Frankish mother, Flavius Magnus Magnentius showed enough talent to rise high in the Roman army. In the 340s, the western emperor Constans appointed Magnentius as commander in his personal guard. Whatever Magnentius’ merits, gratitude was not among them, for in January AD 350, he staged a successful coup deposing his benefactor. Constans, who had made himself unpopular with the army, attempted to flee to his brother Constantius II, emperor of the East, but was captured and executed. After securing control of Italy, Magnentius attempted to negotiate with Constantius, but the eastern emperor would hear none of it. Taking a year to marshal his forces, Constantius struck in the summer of AD 351, but Magnentius defeated his initial thrust into Italy and went on the offensive, seizing the strategic town of Siscia and forcing a major engagement in the Balkans. The clash at Mursa on September 28, AD 351 proved one of the costliest battles in Roman history, leaving the ground strewn with 55,000 dead. Magnentius fared much the worse and retreated into Gaul. Constantius took his time in pursuit, invading Italy the following year and methodically tightening the noose around Magentius, who was forced to take refuge in the city of Lugdunum. Rather than surrender, Magnentius fell on his sword in August of AD 353. Although a usurper, Magentius had a long-lasting impact on the Roman Empire through the agency of his young widow, Justina, who later married Valentinian I and became a lynchpin in future dynastic politics.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 791
AI Rec
Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.47 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 10th officina. Struck AD 397-402. D N ARCADI VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder in right hand and shield decorated with horseman motif on left shoulder / CONCORDI A AVGG, Constantinopolis, helmeted and draped, enthroned facing, head right, right foot on prow, holding long scepter in right hand and, in left hand, holding Victory on globe left who holds wreath in extended left hand and palm frond in right arm; I//CONOB. RIC X 7; Depeyrot 55/1; Biaggi –; Mazzini –. Toned, with some luster, marks, trace die rust on obverse. EF.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Triton XXVI (10 January 2023), lot 869.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Triton XXVI (10 January 2023), lot 869.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 792
Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 402. D N ARCADI VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over right shoulder in right hand and shield decorated with horseman motif on left shoulder / NOVA SPES REIPVBLICAE, Victory, draped at waist, seated right on cuirass, supporting shield set on left knee with left hand and inscribing XX/ XXX in two lines on it with stylus held in right hand; CONOB. RIC X 23; Depeyrot 54/1; Biaggi –; Mazzini –. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6708929-014, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, light marks. From a very scarce one-year issue.
Ex Dr. Michael Rogers Collection (Part III, Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 14 August 2023), lot 50164; A North American Collection (Triton XI, 8 January 2008), lot 1021; William H. Williams Collection (Triton VI, 14 January 2003), lot 1127.
Ex Dr. Michael Rogers Collection (Part III, Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 14 August 2023), lot 50164; A North American Collection (Triton XI, 8 January 2008), lot 1021; William H. Williams Collection (Triton VI, 14 January 2003), lot 1127.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 795
AI Rec
Aelia Pulcheria. Augusta, AD 414-453. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.49 g, 12h). Constantinople mint, 2nd officina. Struck under Theodosius II, AD 422-423. AEL PVLCH ERIA AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust right, wearing earring and necklace; being crowned by manus Dei above / VOT XX MVLT XXX, Victory, draped, standing left, holding long jeweled cross in right hand and fold of drapery in left; B//CONOB. RIC X 220; Depeyrot 74/3; Biaggi –; Mazzini –. Toned and lustrous, light circular marks, a couple of thin die breaks on reverse. Superb EF. Very rare issue. Extremely rare from this officina. An incredibly early and vibrant strike with parts of the die engraver’s centering circles still visible on both the obverse and reverse.
The sister of Emperor Theodosius II, Aelia Pulcheria, was a major force in the life of the young emperor. Governing him as a young man until he came of age, Pulcheria prepared the emperor for his duties and served as a constant guiding voice and counselor to him. Present throughout his accomplishments and major events, Pulcheria eventually emerged the victor in the rivalry that developed between her and her brother’s wife, Aelia Eudocia, who was consequently dismissed from court. While she was a teenager, Pulcheria took a vow of virginity which she maintained until her death. This dedication to God inspired some of Theodosius’ imperial propaganda during wars with the Sasanian Persians, and the Romans considered Pulcheria’s pious dedication of her virginity to be a source of blessing upon the Empire from God. Theodosius died unexpectedly after being mortally injured during a hunting accident in AD 450. Upon his death, Pulcheria was tasked with appointing his successor. She chose a man of Roman stock, though not of nobility, named Marcian. She married the new emperor on the condition that he not make her violate her vow of virginity, to which Marcian agreed. This unconventional marriage was made possible by church officials, who sponsored the agreement and decreed that God approved of the union and arrangement.
The sister of Emperor Theodosius II, Aelia Pulcheria, was a major force in the life of the young emperor. Governing him as a young man until he came of age, Pulcheria prepared the emperor for his duties and served as a constant guiding voice and counselor to him. Present throughout his accomplishments and major events, Pulcheria eventually emerged the victor in the rivalry that developed between her and her brother’s wife, Aelia Eudocia, who was consequently dismissed from court. While she was a teenager, Pulcheria took a vow of virginity which she maintained until her death. This dedication to God inspired some of Theodosius’ imperial propaganda during wars with the Sasanian Persians, and the Romans considered Pulcheria’s pious dedication of her virginity to be a source of blessing upon the Empire from God. Theodosius died unexpectedly after being mortally injured during a hunting accident in AD 450. Upon his death, Pulcheria was tasked with appointing his successor. She chose a man of Roman stock, though not of nobility, named Marcian. She married the new emperor on the condition that he not make her violate her vow of virginity, to which Marcian agreed. This unconventional marriage was made possible by church officials, who sponsored the agreement and decreed that God approved of the union and arrangement.