Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6
Date: 2025-01-22 16:00:00 (3 weeks from now)
Lots: 1402
Total starting: $ 322,887.00
In this auction, Numistats has matched 129 coins, providing AI-powered purchase recommendations and detailed analysis. View more.
Auction Summary
La subasta "Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6" se llevará a cabo el 22 de enero de 2025, y contará con un total de 1402 lotes de monedas. Entre las piezas más destacadas se encuentran varias monedas de oro y plata que reflejan la rica historia numismática de diversas civilizaciones. Por ejemplo, el AV Aureus de Julio César, datado en el 46 a.C., es notable no solo por su antigüedad, sino también por su diseño que incluye emblemas del augurato y el pontificado, lo que lo convierte en un objeto de gran interés para los coleccionistas. Otro ejemplar destacado es el AV 5 Guineas de George II, que aunque presenta reparaciones, sigue siendo una pieza valiosa por su historia y rareza. Además, el AV Stater de Ptolemy I Soter, que es extremadamente raro, añade un atractivo especial a la subasta. Las monedas de la época de los Seleúcidas también son notables, con varias tetradracmas que muestran la influencia de Alejandro Magno. En general, esta subasta promete ser un evento emocionante para los entusiastas de la numismática, con una variedad de monedas que abarcan desde la antigüedad clásica hasta el periodo medieval.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5263
PERSIA, Alexandrine Empire. Mazakes. Satrap of Mesopotamia, circa 331-323/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 16.52 g, 12h). Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray and crescent to left, unclear Aramaic letters to right. Le Rider, Alexander, pp. 214–9; Van Alfen, Owls, Group Ib, 64–6 (same obv. die); Nicolet-Pierre, Monnaies, pl. 26, e–f. Lightly toned, some roughness, a few delaminations. VF. Rare.
Mazakes is best known as the Persian satrap who took over Egypt after Sabakes fell in battle against Alexander the Great's army at the Granicus, and later handed over the province peacefully to the Macedonian king. Imitative owls in the name of Mazakes have been known for some time, and all were originally attributed to his satrapy in Egypt. However, it was clear that stylistic elements separated the coinage into two general groups. More recent hoards, especially the 1973 Iraq hoard, have shown that one of the groups of imitative owls was certainly not struck in Egypt, but somewhere in the territory of modern day Iraq. In his analysis of the 1973 hoard, M. Price ("Circulation at Babylon in 323 B.C." in W.E. Metcalf, ed., Mnemata: Papers in Memory of Nancy M. Waggoner [New York, 1991], pp. 63–72) changed the findspot from Iraq to the more specific cite of Babylon, based on anecdotal evidence (p. 63), and gave the series of Mazakes' owls to the city. However, such an assignment has forced numismatists to conduct mental gymnastics in order to rationalize the presence of Mazakes' coins at Babylon (cf. Van Alfen, Owls, pp. 27–33, and Le Rider, Alexander, pp. 215–7, for a summary of the previous research). It is clear that the attribution of the owls to Babylon is almost certainly incorrect, and other find evidence suggests an attribution to somewhere further north, perhaps in the satrapy of Mesopotamia (cf. Le Rider, op. cit., p. 217–9). In any event, this coinage clarifies the historical record regarding the disposition of Mazakes following his hand-over of Egypt, upon which subject the literary evidence is silent. As noted by Le Rider (op. cit., p. 215), one can compare Mazakes to other Persians who peacefully welcomed Alexander to their domains: Mazaios, who handed over Cilicia, was later made satrap in Babylon, and Mithrenes, who surrendered Sardes, was made satrap in Armenia. Also, the Persian noble Amminapes, who met Alexander in Egypt with Mazakes, was later made satrap of Parthia and Hyrkania. Thus, one would expect Mazakes to receive similarly favorable treatment, appointment to some position of authority. Interestingly, Mesopotamia is the only satrapy that is not addressed in the literary evidence when Alexander is organizing his eastern territories. As these tetradrachms of Mazakes are found in that region, and date to the period after Alexander's conquest, it is reasonable to suggest that Mazakes may have been appointed as satrap of Mesopotamia. It was also in the adjacent satrapy of Babylonia that Mazaios was allowed to strike a coinage in his name and types (influenced by his prior issues at Tarsos) for local use, and similar issues of local type and weight are known to have been issued at mints throughout the basin of the Tigris and Euphrates, from the time of Alexander to Seleukos I. Thus, these Athenian type tetradrachms likely constitute a local coinage of Mazakes, struck in the satrapy of Mesopotamia while he reigned there.
Mazakes is best known as the Persian satrap who took over Egypt after Sabakes fell in battle against Alexander the Great's army at the Granicus, and later handed over the province peacefully to the Macedonian king. Imitative owls in the name of Mazakes have been known for some time, and all were originally attributed to his satrapy in Egypt. However, it was clear that stylistic elements separated the coinage into two general groups. More recent hoards, especially the 1973 Iraq hoard, have shown that one of the groups of imitative owls was certainly not struck in Egypt, but somewhere in the territory of modern day Iraq. In his analysis of the 1973 hoard, M. Price ("Circulation at Babylon in 323 B.C." in W.E. Metcalf, ed., Mnemata: Papers in Memory of Nancy M. Waggoner [New York, 1991], pp. 63–72) changed the findspot from Iraq to the more specific cite of Babylon, based on anecdotal evidence (p. 63), and gave the series of Mazakes' owls to the city. However, such an assignment has forced numismatists to conduct mental gymnastics in order to rationalize the presence of Mazakes' coins at Babylon (cf. Van Alfen, Owls, pp. 27–33, and Le Rider, Alexander, pp. 215–7, for a summary of the previous research). It is clear that the attribution of the owls to Babylon is almost certainly incorrect, and other find evidence suggests an attribution to somewhere further north, perhaps in the satrapy of Mesopotamia (cf. Le Rider, op. cit., p. 217–9). In any event, this coinage clarifies the historical record regarding the disposition of Mazakes following his hand-over of Egypt, upon which subject the literary evidence is silent. As noted by Le Rider (op. cit., p. 215), one can compare Mazakes to other Persians who peacefully welcomed Alexander to their domains: Mazaios, who handed over Cilicia, was later made satrap in Babylon, and Mithrenes, who surrendered Sardes, was made satrap in Armenia. Also, the Persian noble Amminapes, who met Alexander in Egypt with Mazakes, was later made satrap of Parthia and Hyrkania. Thus, one would expect Mazakes to receive similarly favorable treatment, appointment to some position of authority. Interestingly, Mesopotamia is the only satrapy that is not addressed in the literary evidence when Alexander is organizing his eastern territories. As these tetradrachms of Mazakes are found in that region, and date to the period after Alexander's conquest, it is reasonable to suggest that Mazakes may have been appointed as satrap of Mesopotamia. It was also in the adjacent satrapy of Babylonia that Mazaios was allowed to strike a coinage in his name and types (influenced by his prior issues at Tarsos) for local use, and similar issues of local type and weight are known to have been issued at mints throughout the basin of the Tigris and Euphrates, from the time of Alexander to Seleukos I. Thus, these Athenian type tetradrachms likely constitute a local coinage of Mazakes, struck in the satrapy of Mesopotamia while he reigned there.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5009
LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 340-330 BC. AR Dinomos (21mm, 15.51 g, 8h). Helmeted head of Leukippos right; to left, forepart of lion right and AΠH / Barley ear with leaf to left; club above leaf, AMI below. Johnston Class B, 1.4 (same dies); HN Italy 1574. Lightly toned, some roughness on obverse, flan flaw and small delamination on reverse. Near VF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5267
PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. 305/4-282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 14.18 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 294-282 BC. Diademed head right, wearing aegis, small Δ behind ear / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; to left, P above monogram. CPE 157; Svoronos 253; SNG Copenhagen 69. Attractively toned, with iridescence around the devices, some marks, graffiti and banker’s mark on reverse. Good VF.
From the Mesogeios Collection. Ex Lugdunum 23 (14 December 2023), lot 81 (hammer CHF 2400); Hess 251 (7 May 1981), lot 137; Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection (Part II, Sotheby’s Zurich, 4 April 1973), lot 737; John Ward Collection (publ. 1901), 885.
From the Mesogeios Collection. Ex Lugdunum 23 (14 December 2023), lot 81 (hammer CHF 2400); Hess 251 (7 May 1981), lot 137; Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection (Part II, Sotheby’s Zurich, 4 April 1973), lot 737; John Ward Collection (publ. 1901), 885.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5013
LUCANIA, Thourioi. Circa 300-280 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.73 g, 5h). Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with Skylla pointing and holding rudder; TIMO behind neck / Bull butting right; above, star and Nike flying right, crowning bull. Cf. HN Italy 1831/1879 (for obv./rev.); CNG 121, lot 77 (same dies); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Lightly toned, delaminations and roughness on obverse, a little off center on reverse. Good VF. Rare.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5529
EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Dichalkon (13mm, 2.06 g, 11h). Arsinoite nome. Dated RY 11 (AD 126/7). Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / APC, crocodile standing right, wearing solar disc crown; L IA (date) above. Köln 3383-4; Dattari (Savio) 6212, 10884-6; K&G N6.7; RPC III 6297; W&G III.3; Emmett 1291.11. Red-brown surfaces, slight roughness, a bit off center. Near VF.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Warden Numismatics, 14 January 2006.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Warden Numismatics, 14 January 2006.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5275
KYRENAICA, Kyrene. Second Revolt of the Kyrenaikans. Circa 305-300 BC. AV Tenth Stater (6.5mm, 0.72 g). Head of Ammon right / Upright thunderbolt; stars flanking. Naville 183–217; SNG Copenhagen 1233; BMC 216–20. Underlying luster, small deposit and a little off center on obverse, a few minor marks on reverse. Near EF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5531
EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 25.67 g, 12h). Busirite nome. Dated RY 8 (AD 144/5). Laureate head right / BOY CI PIT, Osiris of Busiris standing facing, head left, wearing Ajedjti feather crown, holding ram and long scepter; L H (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 6224; K&G N9.3; RPC IV.4 775.7 (this coin); W&G II; Emmett 1826.8 (R5). Brown patina with green deposits, minor marks and scratches. Fine.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Waddell 100 (30 November 2005), lot 30 (part of); Classical Numismatic Auctions XIV (20 March 1991), lot 569; Numismatic Fine Arts Fall MBS (18 October 1990), lot 2547.
Busiris, the capital of the Busirite nome, was where Isis buried her brother-husband Osiris, and thus, an important pilgrimage destination. Osiris was reborn to become the ruler of the underworld.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Waddell 100 (30 November 2005), lot 30 (part of); Classical Numismatic Auctions XIV (20 March 1991), lot 569; Numismatic Fine Arts Fall MBS (18 October 1990), lot 2547.
Busiris, the capital of the Busirite nome, was where Isis buried her brother-husband Osiris, and thus, an important pilgrimage destination. Osiris was reborn to become the ruler of the underworld.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 6077
Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 24.04 g, 6h). “Judaea Capta” commemorative. Rome mint. Struck under Vespasian, AD 73. T • CAES • VESP • IMP PON • [TR • POT] COS II CENS, laureate head right / S • C in exergue, Titus standing right in triumphal quadriga right, holding [branch] in right hand and scepter in left; on currus, relief of Victory holding wreath and palm frond. RIC II.1 611 (Vespasian); Hendin 6572. Dark brown patina, roughness, porosity, smoothing. Good Fine. Very rare.
Ex Jetons Canada; Gemini XI (12 January 2014), lot 412, reportedly purchased from a Frederick S. Knobloch FPL, December 1965.
Ex Jetons Canada; Gemini XI (12 January 2014), lot 412, reportedly purchased from a Frederick S. Knobloch FPL, December 1965.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5021
BRUTTIUM, Lokroi Epizephyrioi. Circa 317-279 BC. AR Nomos (22mm, 7.47 g, 4h). Laureate head of Zeus right; thunderbolt to left / Eagle, wings spread, standing left on, and tearing at, dead hare. Spinelli Group V, 9; HN Italy 2323. Iridescent tone, struck with worn dies, two shallow test cuts on obverse. VF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5022
BRUTTIUM, Rhegion. Circa 435-425 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 16.44 g, 1h). Head of lion facing / Iokastos (or Aristaios?) seated left, holding scepter, within laurel wreath. Herzfelder 51 (D22/R42); HN Italy 2488; de Luynes 785 (same dies); McClean 1864 (same dies). Deeply toned, with some iridescence, rough surfaces. Near VF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 6080
AI Rec
Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. AR Denarius (16.5mm, 3.37 g, 6h). Ephesus mint. Struck under Vespasian, AD 71. Laureate head right / Victory advancing right, holding palm frond and wreath; E(PHE) to lower right. RIC II.1 1442 (Vespasian); RPC II 844; RSC 125. Lightly toned, a few shallow marks. EF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5024
SICILY, Akragas. Circa 480/78-470 BC. AR Didrachm (20mm, 8.75 g, 3h). Sea eagle standing left / Crab within incuse circle. Westermark, Coinage, Period I, Group IV, 265 (O88/R183); HGC 2, 97. In NGC encapsulation 6055400-013, graded Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Overstruck.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5537
EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (24.5mm, 19.91 g, 12h). Menelaite nome. Dated RY 13 (AD 109/10). Laureate bust right, wearing aegis on left shoulder / MENEΛA ЄITHC, Harpokrates of Canopus: as a youth, nude from the waist up with the lower body of a crocodile, standing left on garlanded base, wearing skhent, holding cornucopia with his left arm, right hand raised to his mouth; L I Γ (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 11031 = RPC III 6444.4 (this coin); K&G N31.3; W&G I.1b; Emmett 751.13 (R3). Green patina with patches of red, some roughness, edge flaw. Near VF. Rare.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection (Naville Numismatics 31, 14 May 2017), lot 274.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection (Naville Numismatics 31, 14 May 2017), lot 274.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5027
SICILY, Gela. Circa 480/75-475/70 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.28 g, 11h). Charioteer driving quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Forepart of man-headed bull right. Jenkins, Gela, Group IIa, 113 (O34/R66); HGC 2, 338. Lightly toned, struck with worn dies, some roughness. Near VF.
From the Henry A. Sauter Collection. Ex Superior C.O.I.N. Auction (15 June 1972), lot 161.
From the Henry A. Sauter Collection. Ex Superior C.O.I.N. Auction (15 June 1972), lot 161.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5541
EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Obol (19mm, 5.18 g, 12h). Oxyrhynchite nome. Dated RY 11 (AD 126/7). Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / OΞ VP, Thoeris/Athena standing facing, head left, holding bipennis and Nike; L IA (date) to right. Köln 3413-4; Dattari (Savio) 6337-8; K&G N38.4; RPC III 6357; W&G III.1; Emmett 1218.11. Reddish-brown patina with touches of green, minor roughness. VF.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Rocky Mountain Collection of Alexandrian Coins (Classical Numismatic Group 115, 16 September 2020), lot 472.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Rocky Mountain Collection of Alexandrian Coins (Classical Numismatic Group 115, 16 September 2020), lot 472.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5034
SICILY, Messana. 455-451 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 17.34 g, 4h). The nymph Messana driving slow biga right; above, crowning Nike flying right, crowning horses; leaf in exergue / Hare springing right; D above. Caltabiano Series VII, 330 (D146/R137); HGC 2, 781; SNG ANS 337 (same dies); Randazzo 213–4 (same dies). Deeply toned, die rust on obverse, double struck on reverse. VF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 6348
GERMANY, Bayern (Kingdom). Ludwig I. 1825-1848. AR Taler (38mm, 12h). Commemorating the Commercial Treaty between Bayern and Würtemberg. München (Munich) mint. Dated 1827. Bare head right / Cadeuceus between crossed cornucopias. AKS 116; Davenport 559; KM –. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6402796-007, graded MS 62.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5547
EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 22.85 g, 12h). Sethroite nome. Dated RY 8 (AD 144/5). Laureate head right / [CЄ]ΘPO ЄI T HC, Horus of Mesen standing facing, head right, wearing pschent and military dress, holding spear in right hand and hawk, standing left and wearing pschent in left; L H (date) across lower field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 6390; K&G N48.6; RPC IV.4 796; W&G IV; Emmett 1824.8. Green patina with green and red deposits, some roughness, cleaning scratches. Near VF.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Frank L. Kovacs, 12 August 1997.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Frank L. Kovacs, 12 August 1997.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5292
BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (34mm, 16.86 g, 12h). Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / The Dioskouroi on horses rearing right, holding palms and spears; monogram to lower right. Bopearachchi 1D; SNG ANS 432; HGC 12, 130. Toned, porosity, obverse delamination. Good VF. Struck on a broad flan.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 489 (7 April 2021), lot 256.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 489 (7 April 2021), lot 256.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 6350
GERMANY, Halberstadt (bishophric). Gero von Schermbke. 1160-1177. AR Brakteate (30mm, 0.87 g). Nimbate bust of St. Stephan above a city gate, within the gate a bust of a bishop with crozier and Gospels / Incuse of obverse. Kestner 1288-92; Bonhoff 466. Light golden toning. EF.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 73 (13 September 2006), lot 1152.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 73 (13 September 2006), lot 1152.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 6095
Hadrian. AD 117-138. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.18 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck late AD 121-123. Laureate head right / Galley left. RIC II.3 525; RSC 1174. Iridescent toning on the obverse, a couple of minor scratches, faint hairlines, a couple of deposits. Near EF.