Auction 121 - Session 3
Date: 2022-10-06 00:00:00
Lots: 309
Total starting: $ 0.00
Total realized: $ 0.00 (+0.00%)
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Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 747
Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Plautius Plancus. 47 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.88 g, 6h). Rome mint. Facing mask of Medusa with disheveled hair; coiled serpents flanking / Aurora flying right, holding palm frond and conducting four horses of the sun. Crawford 453/1a; CRI 29; Sydenham 959; Plautia 15; RBW 1583. Lustrous, slight areas of weak strike. EF. A wonderful example of the type. Ex Triton I (2 December 1997), lot 1207.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 748
Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Plautius Plancus. 47 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.86 g, 6h). Rome mint. Facing mask of Medusa with disheveled hair; coiled serpents flanking / Aurora flying right, holding palm frond and conducting four horses of the sun. Crawford 453/1b; CRI 29; Sydenham 959a; Plautia 15a; FFC 1003 (this coin illustrated). Toned, slightly off center. EF. Exceptional for the type. Ex Roma XVII (28 March 2019), lot 679; Alba Longa Collection; Marian Sinton Collection (Triton III, 30 November 1999), lot 936.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 749
Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. T. Carisius. 46 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.90 g, 2h). Rome mint. Head of Juno Moneta right, one lock of hair on neck / Implements for coining money: anvil die with garlanded punch die above, tongs and hammer on either side; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 464/2; CRI 70; Sydenham 982a; Carisia 1a; RBW 1614. Toned, light iridescence on reverse, slightly porous, some scratches. Good VF. Ex Leu Numismatik 8 (23 October 2021), lot 272; Dr. Hans Krähenbühl Collection (Schweizerische Kreditanstalt FPL 15, November 1974), lot 149.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 750
Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. C. Vibius Varus. 42 BC. AV Aureus (20mm, 8.04 g, 7h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Apollo right / Venus, half nude and seen from behind, standing left beside a column, looking at herself in mirror; C • VIBIVS upward to left, VARVS upward to right. Crawford 494/34; CRI 190; Sydenham 1137; Bahrfeldt 36; Calicó 33; RBW 1738. Scattered marks. Near VF. Ex Birger Bentsen Collection (Leu Numismatik Web Auction 16, 22 May 2021), lot 59; Kurt Haintz Collection (27 May 2019), lot 61; Künker 111 (18 March 2006), lot 6471.David Sear relates both the head of Apollo on the obverse and the Venus on the reverse to the gens Iulia. The aureus thus commemorates the murdered Caesar, which is certainly related to the struggle of the triumvirs against the assassins of Caesar. The extraordinarily extensive coinage in 42 served to finance this struggle and was made possible by proscriptions and tax collections.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 751
The Pompeians. Q. Sicinius and C. Coponius. 49 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.93 g, 6h). Military mint in the East, moving with Pompey; C. Coponius, praetor. Diademed head of Apollo right; star below / Club of Hercules surmounted by lion skin, scalp in profile to right; arrow to left, bow to right. Crawford 444/1a; CRI 3; Sydenham 939; Sicinia 1; RBW 1558. Beautiful toning, great metal. Near EF. This coin exhibits an unusual quirk: the obverse is engraved with the gentle concavity typically seen on the obverse of Republican denarii, while the reverse is relatively flat. We could find five other examples sharing this quirk: – Negrini 27, lot 349 (3.66 g) – Rauch 81, lot 233 (4.15 g) – "Numis et Ars 95, lot 192" – Gallerie Geri (29 November 1985), lot 80 – Tkalec (22 April 2007), lot 169 (3.95 g) In additional, we note there is a single reverse brockage: – Gemini X, lot 175 (3.91 g),br> And a reverse die match paired with a different obverse: – Roma E-31, lot 370
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 752
The Pompeians. L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus. April-June 49 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.82 g, 11h). Apollonia mint in Illyricum. Head of Apollo right / Jupiter, nude, standing facing, head right, holding thunderbolt and eagle; to left, star of eight rays above Q; garlanded altar to right. Crawford 445/2; CRI 5; Sydenham 1030; Cornelia 65; RBW 1563. Toned, small flan crack. Good VF. From the Dean Kinzer Collection. Ex Marti Hervera and Soler & Llach 1119 (22 March 2021), lot 227; Prof. Angelo Signorelli Collection (Part II, Santamaria, 4 June 1952), lot 723.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 753
The Pompeians. Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio. 47- Spring 46 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.50 g, 2h). Military mint traveling with Scipio in Africa. Laureate head of Jupiter right / African elephant walking right. Crawford 459/1; CRI 45; Sydenham 1046; Caecilia 47; RBW 1601. Toned, short scuff on reverse. EF. From the Dean Kinzer Collection, purchased from Ed Waddell.Scipio was Pompey's colleague in the consulship of 52 BC, and governor of Syria in 49 BC. He commanded the center line of Pompey's army at Pharsalus, after which he fled to Africa and formed an alliance with Juba I, king of Numidia. Through the influence of Cato, he obtained control of the Pompeian forces but was defeated by Caesar in 46 BC at Thapsus, where, not wanting to be captured, he committed suicide. This coin was struck while Scipio was in Africa.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 754
The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. April-August 49 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.82 g, 1h). Military mint traveling with Caesar. Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis, and apex. Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; Sydenham 1006; RSC 49; RBW 1557. Deeply toned, slightly off center. Good VF. From the Brian Holland Collection.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 755
The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. Early 46 BC. AV Aureus (20mm, 8.11 g, 1h). Rome mint; A. Hirtius, praetor. Veiled head of female (Vesta or Pietas?) right; C • CAESAR COS TER around / Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: lituus, capis, and securis; A • HIRTIVS • PR around from lower left. Crawford 466/1; Molinari 338-9 (D49/R256); CRI 56; Sydenham 1018; Calicó 37; Biaggi –; BMCRR Rome 4052; RBW 1634. Light marks and deposits, off center on reverse. Good VF. From the Conti Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear.Aulus Hirtius, friend and confidant of Julius Caesar, was praetor in 46 BC, and thus charged with the distribution of the first truly large issue of Roman gold coins to date. The aurei were for distribution to the general's successful troops after their final victory over the Pompeians in Africa at Thapsus. Each legionary received 5000 denarii (200 aurei), centurions twice that. Since Caesar had at least 40,000 legionnaires at Thapsus, the amount of coin needed was immense. But the amount of booty collected from Caesar's many campaigns was also colossal, and Hirtius seems to have been able to supply the need. Hirtius later finished the dictator's memoirs after his assassination and was himself killed at the siege of Mutina in 43 BC.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 756
The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. Early 46 BC. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.94 g, 11h). Rome mint; A. Hirtius, praetor. Veiled head of female (Vesta or Pietas?) right; C • CAESAR COS TER around / Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: lituus, capis, and securis; A • HIRTIVS • PR around from lower left. Crawford 466/1; Molinari 459 (D85/R297); CRI 56; Sydenham 1018; Calicó 37; Biaggi –; BMCRR Rome 4052; RBW 1634. Contact marks. Good VF. Struck with fresh dies.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 757
The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. Early 46 BC. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 8.07 g, 6h). Rome mint; A. Hirtius, praetor. Veiled head of female (Vesta or Pietas?) right; C • CAeÍAr COÍ Ter around / Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: lituus, capis, and securis; A • hirTiuÍ • pr around from lower left. Crawford 466/1; Molinari 29-47 (D1/R209); CRI 56; Sydenham 1018; Calicó 37; RBW 1634. Off center. Near VF. Finest obverse die in the series.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 758
The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. Late 46-early 45 BC. AV Aureus (21mm, 8.18 g, 3h). Rome mint. Draped and winged bust of Victory right, hair rolled back and collected into a knot behind; C • CAeÍ upward to left, DiC • Ter downward to right / Guttus (single-handled sacrificial jug); L • pLANC upward to left, prAeF • œB downward to right. Crawford 475/1a; CRI 60; Sydenham 1019a; Bahrfeldt 20; Calicó 45; RBW 1663. Lightly toned, a few marks, trace deposits. VF. Well centered on a broad flan. Ex Antykwariat Numizmatyczny - Niemczyk 30 (25 September 2021), lot 9; Künker 133 (11 October 2007), lot 8431.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 759
The Republicans. C. Cassius Longinus. Spring 42 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.52 g, 6h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. Tripod surmounted by cortina and two laurel branches, fillet hanging on either side / Capis and lituus. Crawford 500/1; CRI 219; Sydenham 1308; RSC 7; RBW 1761. A hint of toning. EF. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 461 (12 February 2020), lot 335.The obverse of this denarius closely copies the reverse of the aureus struck by M. Aquinius, and was probably minted on the occasion of the meeting in Smyrna between Cassius and Brutus. The capis and lituus, symbols of the pontificate, recall Spinther's election to that college in 57 BC.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 760
The Republicans. C. Cassius Longinus. Spring 42 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.88 g, 6h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. Veiled, diademed, and draped bust of Libertas right / Capis and lituus. Crawford 500/5; CRI 223; Sydenham 1305; RSC 6; RBW 1764. Lightly toned, hairline flan crack, areas of minor roughness. EF. From the Brian Holland Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 205 (25 February 2009), lot 372.C. Cassius Longinus was one of the principal conspirators against Julius Caesar. Following the assassination, he moved to the east, where he sought to amass an army. His prior reputation of military success against the Parthians while governing the province of Syria proved invaluable, and by 43 BC his army boasted nearly twelve legions. He was able to stave off Antony's general Dolabella, secured his base in Syria, and begin preparations for an invasion of Egypt. At the same time, Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus formed the triumvirate, and this posed too great a threat to ignore. Cassius halted his impending invasion of Egypt and moved west to meet up with Brutus' forces at Smyrna. The two regicides agreed to take joint action against the triumvirs, and began by attacking their allies in Asia. The following year the pair moved into Thrace, and chose a position outside Philippi to meet the approaching army of Antony and Octavian. Brutus moved against Octavian with great success, capturing the young Caesarian's camp, but Cassius' army was routed by Antony. Unaware of his partner's success, Cassius thought the entire cause was lost, and had his freedman Pindarus slay him.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 761
The Republicans. Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.77 g, 12h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. Emblems of the pontificate: securis, simpulum, and secespita / Capis and lituus. Crawford 500/7; CRI 198; Sydenham 1310; RSC 6; RBW 1766. Lightly toned with traces of find patina. EF.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 762
The Republicans. Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.76 g, 12h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. Emblems of the pontificate: securis, simpulum, and secespita / Capis and lituus. Crawford 500/7; CRI 198; Sydenham 1310; RSC 6; RBW 1766. Areas of iridescence, irregular flan. Good VF. From the Brian Holland Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 81 (20 May 2009), lot 958.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 763
The Republicans. Cn. Domitius L.f. Ahenobarbus. 41-40 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.75 g, 7h). Uncertain mint in the region of the Adriatic or Ionian Sea. Bare head of Ahenobarbus right, wearing short beard; AHENOBAR upward to right / Prow right surmounted by a military trophy; CN • DOMITIVS • IMP around from lower left. Crawford 519/2; CRI 339; Sydenham 1177; Domitia 21; RBW 1803. Toned, light iridescence, small flan flaw on obverse. Near EF. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 120 (6 October 2020), lot 654; Nomisma 59 (14 May 2019), lot 139; Classical Numismatic Group inventory 561917; Hans Schulman (14 February 1958), lot 1958.Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus commanded a fleet against the Triumvirs, achieving a minor victory in September of 42 BC. But that very day, the Triumvirs won the battle of Philippi, and Ahenobarbus found himself fighting for a lost cause. He became a piratical rogue, terrorizing the ports of the Adriatic like his western counterpart, Sextus Pompey, until he signed the Pact of Brundisium in 40 BC, which reconciled him to Mark Antony. His great-grandson would become the Emperor Nero (AD 54-68). The rare coinage of Ahenobarbus belongs to his stint as a "pirate king" 42-40 BC. This silver denarius bears an appropriately nautical reverse celebrating his victories at sea. The balding, bearded portrait on the obverse remains enigmatic; it may represent Gnaeus himself, or one of his ancestors.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 764
The Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Octavian. Spring-early summer 41 BC. AV Aureus (21mm, 7.77 g, 10h). Ephesus mint; M. Barbatius Pollio, quaestor pro praetore. Bare head of Mark Antony right; M • ANT • I(MP) (AV)G III VIR • R • P C M • B • A • RB • AT • Q • P around / Bare head of Octavian right; CAESAR • IMP • PONT • III • VIR • R • P • C • around. Crawford 517/1a var. (pellets in obv. legend); CRI 242 var.; Sydenham 1180 var.; Bahrfeldt 77 var.; Calicó 109 var.; Biaggi 66 var.; BMCRR East 98 var.; Kestner 3792 var.; RBW 1797 var. (all with different pellet breaks in obv. legend). Slightly wavy, trace of deposits, some scrapes, edge damage. Good Fine. An unpublished variety of the extremely rare gold issue with BArBAT in obverse legend. Ex Heritage 3092 (24 June 2021), lot 38031; Hess-Divo 336 (27 May 2019), lot 64; Numismatica Ars Classica 78 (26 May 2014), lot 758.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 765
The Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Lucius Antony. Summer 41 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.68 g, 11h). Ephesus mint; M. Cocceius Nerva, proquaestor pro praetore. Bare head of Mark Antony right; M ΛNT • I(MP) (AV)G III VIR • R • P C M (NE)RVA • PROQ • P around / Bare head of Lucius Antony right; L • ANTONIVS COS around. Crawford 517/5a; CRI 246; Sydenham 1185; RSC 2; RBW 1799. Pleasing old tone, hairline flan crack. Good VF. From the Father & Son Collection. Ex Thomas A. Palmer Collection (Triton XXV, 11 January 2022), lot 768 (hammer $6500); Classical Numismatic Review XIX. 4 (Fourth Quarter 1994), no. 181.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 766
The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Summer 40 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.71 g, 8h). Uncertain mint (Corcyra?). Bare head right; lituus to left / Caduceus and two cornucopias set on globe. Crawford 520/1; CRI 256; Sydenham 1189; RSC 66a; RBW –. Toned, porosity, scratches and edge scrapes. Good VF. Rare.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Auction 121 - Session 3 . 767
The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Summer 38 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.72 g, 5h). Athens mint. Mark Antony, veiled, and wearing the priestly robes of an augur, standing right, holding lituus / Radiate head of Sol right. Crawford 533/2; CRI 267; Sydenham 1199; RSC 13a; RBW 1820. Iridescent cabinet tone. Good VF. From the Conti Collection. Ex PT Collection (Roma XVI, 26 September 2018), lot 631; Roma XIII (23 March 2017), lot 658.