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 . 998
VIETNAM (ANNAM), Nguyễn dynasty. Dực Tông (Tự Đức). 1847-1883. AR 3 Tìên (40mm, 13.10 g, 12h). Tu Duc Thong Bao in Han-nom characters / Two dragons flying upward; flaming pearl above, cloud below. Schroeder 347; BN, Vietnamiennes –; Thierry, Extrême –; KM 435. Toned. In PCGS encapsulation 50723184, graded AU Details, chopmark.


From the Drewry Family Collection. Ex H. Christensen 90 (4 October 1985), lot 4.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 229
CORINTHIA, Corinth. Circa 400-350/45 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 8.46 g, 1h). Pegasos flying left; koppa below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; to right, forepart of horse right. Ravel Period IV, Series 3, 432 var. (P211/T– [unlisted rev. die]); cf. Pegasi 142 (text, not photos); cf. BCD Corinth 54; HGC 4, 1832; Pozzi 1665 (same obv. die). Toned, a little die wear and off center on obverse. EF. Fine style head of Athena. Rare variety.


From the JTB Collection. Ex Pegasos Collection (Nomos 25, 20 November 2022), lot 134.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 999
VIETNAM (ANNAM), Nguyễn dynasty. Dực Tông (Tự Đức). 1847-1883. AR 2 Tìên (27mm, 7.47 g, 12h). Tu Duc Thong Bao in Han-nom characters / Su Dan Phu Tho in Han-nom characters. Schroeder 351B; cf. BN, Vietnamiennes Supp. 498-9; Thierry, Extrême –; KM 423. Toned. In PCGS encapsulation 50722818, graded AU 58.


From the Drewry Family Collection. Ex H. Christensen 90 (4 October 1985), lot 8.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 235
ELIS, Olympia. 134th-143rd Olympiad. Circa 244-208 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.73 g, 10h). Eagle flying right, tearing at hare held in its talons / Vertical thunderbolt with volute above, wings below; F-A flanking. Elis Hoard Group I, 1 (same dies); BCD Olympia 231 (this coin); cf. SNG Copenhagen 426; Dewing 1902; Pozzi 4145. Toned. Good VF.


From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Triton XVII (7 January 2014), lot 235; BCD Collection (Leu 90, 10 May 2004), lot 231.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 749
Diocletian. AD 284-305. Antoninianus (22mm, 4.48 g, 6h). ‘C’ mint. Struck under Carausius, circa AD 286-circa 293. IMP C DIOCLETIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / VICTO R I A AVGGG, Victory, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in outstretched right hand and palm frond held in left arm; S|P//C. RIC V.5 3591 (forthcoming); cf. RIC V 29 (for similar issue); Bourne 143. Dark brown patina, a couple of die breaks, spot of minor cleaning scratches. EF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 493
EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Hemidrachm (30mm, 15.14 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 63/4). NEPΩ KΛAY KAIΣ ΣE[B ΓEP], laureate head right / AYTO KPA, bust of Nilus right, wearing taenia, slight drapery on left shoulder; reed and lotus behind; cornucopia and L I (date) to right. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 277; K&G 14.79; RPC I 5276; Emmett 142.10 (R5). Green patina with red deposits, some smoothing, cleaning scratches. Near VF. Extremely rare, only three recorded in RPC.


From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Nilus Coins, 21 December 2009.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 750
Diocletian. AD 284-305. Antoninianus (22.5mm, 4.16 g, 7h). ‘C’ mint. Struck under Carausius, circa AD 286-circa 293. IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / VIRTV S AVGGG, Virtus, helmeted and nude but for chlamys draped over shoulders, standing right, holding reversed spear in right hand and resting left hand on shield set on ground to right; S|P//C. RIC V.5 3593 (forthcoming); RIC V 30 var. (bust type); Bourne 147. Attractive even dark olive brown-green patina, minor pit. EF. Extremely rare.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 498
EGYPT, Alexandria. Vitellius. AD 69. Æ Diobol (26mm, 9.64 g, 12h). Dated RY 1 (AD 69). ΩΛOY OYIT KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEPM AYT, laureate head right / Draped bust of Isis right, wearing headdress of solar disk and horns; L A (date) to right. Köln 263; Dattari (Savio) 341; K&G 19.5; RPC I 5377.5 (this coin); Emmett 199.1 (R3). Brown patina, some roughness. Good VF. Very rare, all Alexandrian bronzes of Vitellius are rare. Among the finest known.


From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Naville Numismatics 45 (9 December 2018), lot 204.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 759
Carausius. Romano-British Emperor, AD 286-293. Antoninianus (24.5mm, 3.29 g, 7h). Londinium (London) mint. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / MARS V LTOR, Mars, helmeted and wearing military attire, advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and shield on left arm; B|E//WLXXI. RIC V.5 2100 (forthcoming; this coin cited and illustrated); RIC V 89 (this coin cited; cites Webb); P. Webb, “The Reign and Coinage of Carausius” in NC 1907, 115 (this coin cited; cites Selborne); CHRB III, 20150 (this coin, illustrated on pl. 7) = Lord Selborne, “On a Hoard of Roman Coins Found at Blackmoor, Hants” in NC 1877, p. 144, 75 and pl. I, 14 (this coin). Dark brown patina, light roughness. VF. Unique. The only example noted in RIC V.5.


From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection, purchased from David Miller, 16 February 2012. Ex Blackmoor Hoard of Third Century Roman Bronze Coins (Christie’s, 9 December 1975), lot 204; Blackmoor, Selborne, October 1873 Hoard (IRBCH 914).

The ‘M’ in the usual MLXXI mint mark was accidentally inverted on the die that was used here. This coin is one of only twenty-four to be illustrated in Selborne’s original 1877 article with a line drawing out of the entire hoard of 29,802 coins.

The first group from this outstanding collection appeared in Triton XXVII followed by highlight selections in CNG 126 and 127 as well as Electronic Auctions. This is a subsequent offering of coins from this very impressive collection of British issues which includes a plethora of outstanding examples and incredible rarities of the Romano-British usurpers Carausius and Allectus. These coins are almost exclusively extremely rare or very rare. Furthermore, many unique coins are being offered here as well. Consequently, headers denoting rarity have been forgone in this section. Classical Numismatic Group would once again like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Sam Moorhead for the updated forthcoming RIC V.5 reference numbers and rarity information for these coins.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 504
EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Diobol (23mm, 8.68 g, 12h). Dated RY 7 (AD 87/8). AVT ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ ΓEPM, laureate head right / Draped bust of Serapis right, wearing kalathos; ETOYΣ EBΔOMOY (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 24.70; RPC II 2536.2 (this coin, illustrated); Emmett 297.7 (R5). Dark brown patina, small edge splits. Good VF, choice. Extremely rare, one of two recorded in RPC.


From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 76 (12 September 2007), lot 1145.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 505
EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. BI Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 12.80 g, 12h). Dated RY 9 (AD 105/6). AYT TPAIAN ΣEB ΓEPM ΔAKIK, laureate head right / Harpocrates standing left, wearing pschent, raising right finger to lips and holding cornucopia in left; to right, lotus plant; L ENATOY (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G –; RPC III 4183.2 (this coin, illustrated); Emmett –. Deeply toned, minor marks. VF. Unique, one of two of this type recorded in RPC, but only this coin with lotus to right. Emmett does not record any tetradrachms with Harpocrates as a reverse type; all tetradrachms for RY 9 are extremely rare.


From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Holyland Numismatics, 12 January 2009.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 508
EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Hemidrachm (27mm, 12.78 g, 12h). Dated RY 5 (AD 120/1). AVT KAI TPAI A∆[PIA CЄB], laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / Hadrian, holding branch in right hand and eagle-tipped scepter in left, driving quadriga right; L Є (date) above. Unpublishd as a hemidrachm; for a drachm of this type: cf. Köln 819; cf. Dattari (Savio) 1588; cf. K&G 32.166; cf. RPC III 5278; Emmett 1083.4 (year unrecorded). Red-brown surfaces, slight porosity. VF. Apparently unique.


From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Frank L. Kovacs, 18 June 2001. Ex Henry Clay Lindgren Collection.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 770
Carausius. Romano-British Emperor, AD 286-293. Antoninianus (19mm, 3.81 g, 6h). ‘C’ mint (?). IMP C M CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate and draped bust right / MONIT[A AVG] [sic], Moneta, draped, standing left, holding scales in extended right hand and cornucopia in left; Q(L inverted) (?) or (C retrograde) (?). RIC V.5 (2447) note (forthcoming; this coin, illustrated); RIC V 292 (this coin cited; cites Webb; attributed to the ‘C’ mint); P. Webb, “The Reign and Coinage of Carausius” in NC 1907, 343 (this coin cited; cites Selborne; attributed to the ‘C’ mint); CHRB III, 20305 corr. (mint mark and rev. legend; attributed to the uncertain mint) = Lord Selborne, “On a Hoard of Roman Coins Found at Blackmoor, Hants,” in NC 1877, p. 144, 80 (this coin; attributed to the London mint). Dark brown patina. VF. Unique. The only example noted in RIC V.5. Published first in the 1877 NC and subsequently in: NC 1907, RIC V 1933, CHRB III 1982, and in the forthcoming RIC V.5.


Ex Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection, purchased from Spink, 15 October 2003; Blackmoor, Selborne, October 1873 Hoard (IRBCH 914).

This unique antoninianus of Carausius has caused catalogers over the last 150 years some difficulty to classify appropriately due to its enigmatic mint mark. From the desirable 1873 Blackmoor Hoard, which contained 545 coins of Carausius, this coin was among the few selected by Lord Selborne for publication in his NC 1877 catalog due to its interesting properties. Namely, among the criteria, that the type was unpublished in the then recently released Volume VII of Cohen’s Monnaies Romaine (1868). Cataloged on page 144 of Selborne’s article as no. 80, Selborne read the mint mark as QL and consequently attributed the coin to the London mint. However, while a mint mark is present on the coin, it is difficult to read fully and appears most closely to an OΓ insofar as it is intelligible. The ‘O’ appears fully enclosed and thus can only read ‘O’ or ‘Q’ if the serif of the ‘Q’ is off flan. Selborne elected to read the second letter as an inverted ‘L’.

The coin, appearing next in Percy Webb’s comprehensive Carausius catalog for the 1907 NC, is cataloged on page 200 as no. 343. There, without further explanation, Webb placed the coin with the ‘C’ mint and simply cited Selborne while additionally providing the coin’s diameter. Webb repeated this cataloging for his portion of the old RIC V.2 in 1933. There Webb cites the coin on page 489 as no. 292 and refers readers back to his 1907 catalog.

The coin next appears in Roger Bland’s 1982 CHRB III. Norman Shiel provided the cataloging for the Carausius and Allectus portion of the catalog and he cataloged the coin on page 71 as no. 20305 alongside the “unmarked series,” which he speculates could be the earliest London mint issues in footnote 236 on page 71. However, while providing the full legends, bust type, diameter, weight, and die axis for the coin, he appears to have missed the letters in the exergue as he makes no mention of them. He places the coin next to 20305A which is Selborne’s Blackmoor Hoard no. 79 which features the same reverse legend error of MONITA for MONETA as the present coin. However, Shiel corrects Selborne and Webb (no. 866 in RIC V.2) by deleting the second ‘G’ out of the reverse legend for that coin. Since that coin does belong to the unmarked series, this makes logical sense, however, Shiel does err in failing to note the exergue letters on the present specimen.

Consequently, this very coin has been cataloged at three different mints by the respective authors of the reference material and authorities on the subject: Selborne at London, Webb at the ‘C’ mint, and Shiel at the unmarked British mint. This last attribution can be safely corrected without controversy. However, where to catalog the coin today is somewhat a matter of perspective. Bringing the coin up to date, Dr. Moorhead has elected to footnote the coin next to the retrograde ‘C’ mint MONETA issues in the forthcoming RIC V.5. Though Dr. Moorhead’s no. 2447 is in parentheses to denote that the coin is unclear.

While this specific coin has caused catalogers some consternation over the last century and a half, this phenomenon is simply reflective of the reality and challenges of cataloging the fascinating coinage of the British usurper Carausius as a whole. While Carausius’ intricate and complex monetary policy is much better understood now than it was in the latter half of the 19th century, there are simply going to be some coins that are more difficult to attribute with high confidence. Dr. Moorhead’s Roman Imperial Coinage V.5 will provide a wealth of information on the subject and is highly anticipated. As for this coin, it features an outstanding pedigree to 1873, has been published five times, is illustrated in the forthcoming RIC V.5, and is unique with this reverse legend error, obverse legend, and bust type paired together.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 514
EGYPT, Alexandria. Antinoüs. Died AD 130. Æ Hemidrachm (28.5mm, 13.91 g, 12h). Struck RY 19 of Hadrian (AD 134/5). ANTINOOY HPωOC, draped bust right, wearing hem–hem crown / Antinoüs (as Hermes), cloaked and holding caduceus in right hand, on horseback right; L/I Θ (date) in field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 8007-9; K&G 34a.2; RPC III 6073; Blum 10; Emmett 1347.19 (R3). Dark brown patina, smoothed, details enhanced. Near VF.


From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Grove Coin Company, 15 March 2008.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 775
Carausius. Romano-British Emperor, AD 286-293. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 2.13 g, 6h). Uncertain mint. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / I II O (CARAVSIIO retrograde) II II, Uncertain figure, draped, standing left, dropping incense into lighted altar set on ground to left with right hand. RIC V.5 247 (forthcoming; this coin cited and illustrated); RIC V –; RSC –; Shiel –. Toned, find patina, striking fractures, cleaning scratches. Near VF. Unique. The only example noted in RIC V.5.


From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection. Ex Dr. J. S. Vogelaar Collection (Spink London 194, 26 March 2008), lot 1151; reportedly found in Norfolk.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 776
Carausius. Romano-British Emperor, AD 286-293. Æ Denarius (19.5mm, 2.85 g, 6h). Uncertain mint. IMP [C]ARAVSIVS P F A, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / F OR TVNA V, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding scales in extended right hand and cornucopia in left. RIC V.5 317 (forthcoming; this coin cited and illustrated); RIC V –; RSC –; Shiel –. Dark find patina, light roughness. Good Fine. Unique. The only example noted in RIC V.5.


From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection. Ex Dix Noonan Webb 146 (25 April 2018), lot 48, purchased from Baldwin’s, October 1971.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 777
Carausius. Romano-British Emperor, AD 286-293. Antoninianus (19.5mm, 2.94 g, 9h). Uncertain mint. IMP [...]VSIVS P F AV, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / [A]DVEN T VS, Carausius on horseback riding left, raising right hand and holding transverse scepter in left, trampling captive with hands bound behind his back below to left; thunderbolt in exergue. RIC V.5 747 (forthcoming; this coin cited and illustrated); RIC V 1075 (this coin cited; cites Selborne); P. Webb, “The Reign and Coinage of Carausius” in NC 1907, 1210 (this coin cited; cites Selborne); CHRB III, 20263 (this coin, illustrated on pl. 8); Malcolm Lyne, “Some New Coin Types of Carausius and Allectus and the History of the British Provinces: AD 286-296” in NC 2003, p. 159 and pl. 27, 19 (this coin). Dark green-brown patina. VF. Unique. Overstruck on an INVICTVS type of Victorinus. The thunderbolt misdescribed by Webb and the authors of RIC but correctly identified and confirmed to be the same coin by Bland and Shiel in CHRB. Perhaps belonging to a continental mint, attributed by some to Rotomagus (Rouen).


From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection, purchased from Spink, 15 February 2002. Ex Blackmoor Hoard of Third Century Roman Bronze Coins (Christie’s, 9 December 1975), lot 251; Blackmoor, Selborne, October 1873 Hoard (IRBCH 914).
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 521
EGYPT, Alexandria. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Diobol (24mm, 6.88 g, 11h). Dated RY 19 of Marcus Aurelius (AD 178/9). Λ AVPHΛIOC KOMMOΔOC CЄB VΠAT B, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Apis bull standing right, crescent on flank, solar disk between horns; before, lighted altar; L IΘ (date) above. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 41.16; RPC IV.4 3353; Emmett 2499.19 (R5). Brown patina, some pitting, traces of verdigris. VF. Very rare, only five recorded in RPC, none in CoinArchives.


From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 196 (7 March 2011), 2323.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 1034
ANGLO-SAXON, Anglo-Viking (Danish Northumbria). Cnut. Circa 900-905. AR Penny (19mm, 1.47 g, 2h). Class IIe/Cunneti type. York mint. C N V T R·:· E·:· X·:· arranged around inverted patriarchal cross with pellets in upper angles / + CVИ ·:· ИET ·:· TI ·:·, short cross pattée with pellets in second and third quarters. SCBI 29 (Merseyside), 330 (same obv. die); cf. BMC 966 (for similar); North 501; SCBC 993. Richly toned, peck mark. Good VF.


From the Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from J. Linzalone, June 1980.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 12
ETRURIA, Populonia. 3rd century BC. AR 5 Asses (13.5mm, 1.37 g). Young male head right; V (mark of value) to left / Blank. EC Series 114, 1 (O1 – this coin, obv. illustrated); otherwise, unpublished. Find patina, light roughness, a few marks on reverse. VF. Unique.


Ex Herakles Numismatics Electronic Auction (2010), lot 9129.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 782
Carausius. Romano-British Emperor, AD 286-293. Antoninianus (17.5mm, 2.85 g, 6h). Rotomagus (Rouen) mint. IMP C CARAVSIVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / L ETIT I A, galley right with gubernator and seven rowers; wreath on prow; waves below; OPA. RIC V.5 368 (forthcoming; this coin cited and illustrated); cf. RIC V 648-9 (for similar issues; same rev. die as illustrated example of 648); Malcolm Lyne, “Some New Coin Types of Carausius and Allectus and the History of the British Provinces: AD 286-296” in NC 2003, p. 158 and pl. 26, 13 corr. (rev. legend; this coin). Attractive dark green patina, light roughness and cleaning scratches. Near EF. Unique. The only example noted in RIC V.5. Webb and Lyne both misread an additional A in the reverse legend - as in - LAETITIA rather than LETITIA. There is no initial A, however, as is evidenced by this very high grade example.


From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular CVIII (June 2000), no. 2280.