History Coins
Other Roman (including Provincial )
Lydia, Maeonia. Pseudo-Autonomous Issue, Time of Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180 Æ Herakles
Obverse: Bareheaded and bearded head of Herakles (Hercules)
Reverse: Omphale, naked but for lion’s skin hanging from neck and shoulders, walking right and carrying club over shoulder; Greek legend for Maeonia either side
18mm, 3.82g
Ref: NG Copenhagen 222-3
£55 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask)
STAR PIECE - Nemausus, Gaul, Augustus and Agrippa, AE Dupondius, Crocodile, 10-14AD
Obverse: Heads of Agrippa, to left, wearing combined rostal crown and laurel wreath and Augustus, to right, wearing laurel wreath, back to back; IMP above and DIVI F below, P-P across field
Reverse: Crocodile, right, chained to palm tree behind, wreath above; COL-NEMacross fields, beaded surround
25mm, 13.12g
Ref: RPC 525,RIC 159
Grade: VF, scrape to obverse
Prov: Ex Roma Numismatics
Note: Issued to commemorate Augustus’ victory in the battle of Actium in Egypt in 31 BC. Nime (modern Nemausus) has now taken this symbol as its emblem
£255 SOLD
Seleuceia Ad Calycadnum, Valerian, AE33,
253-260AD
Obverse: AVT K ΠO ΛIK OVAΛEΡIAN-OC, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust, right
Reverse: CEΛE VKEΩ)N ΠΡOC KA-ΛYKAΔN-Ω or similar, confronted busts of Apollo, laureate, facing right, laurel branch before, and Artemis-Tyche, wearing small modius and facing left, cornucopiae behind
Grade: VF dark patina, slightly double struck on reverse
33mm, 14.3g, comes with old ticket
Ref: SNGLev 786, Scarce
£220 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask)
Spain, Turiaso, Tiberius, AE As, Bull Standing 14-37AD
Obverse: TI CAESAR AVG F IMP PONT M, laureate head right
Reverse: M PONT MARS - MVN TVR above, C MARI VEGETO below, II/VIR to right, bull standing right.
RPC 418b
28.5mm, 12.58g
Grade:VF, with sandy deposits
Pov: Ex CNG coins
£190 (P&P FREE to Uk, other locations please ask first)
Vespasian as Augustus, Antioch, Syria, Bronze, AE14, Not Often Seen for Sale!
Obv: IMP CAES [VESP] AVG P M COS IIII, laureate head of Vespasian, right
Reverse: S C in laurel wreath
15.68g, 14mm x 5mmh
Ref: RPC 2006, BMC221
Only 14 specimens on RPC
Prov: ex Naumann Numismatics
£90 (FREE P&P to UK)
Philip I, Billon Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria AD 244-249
Obverse: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CEB, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Reverse: DHMARX EXOYCIAC YPATO D,
eagle standing right, wings spread, head right, tail left, wreath in its beak. ANTIOXIA SC below.
Ref: S3958
27mm, 13.3g, VF
Provincial -Thyateira, Lydia, AE22, Pseudo-autonomous Coinage, 98-138 AD
Obverse: IEΡA CYNKΛHTOC, bust of Senate
right
Reverse: ΘYATEIΡHNΩN, Demeter standing left, holding corn-ear and poppy in right hand and long torch in left.
Ref: BMC 16, RPC III 1835-8.
22mm, 4.98g, VF
SALE
Was £60 now £50
Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AE 22, Anazarbus, Cilicia, 163-164AD, Scarce Decastyle Temple Example
Obv: ΣEBAΣ ANTΩNEINOY KAI OYHΡ OMONOIA, Marcus Aurelius standing right, holding scroll and shaking hand of Lucius Verus opposite him.
Rev: KAI TΩN ΠΡOΣ TΩ ANAZAΡB, ET BPR below, decastyle temple with star in pediment.
Ref: S1707, SNG Aulock 5479, Lev 1392
22mm, 9.3g
Prov: ex Naumann
A rare coin with unusual decastyle temple in almost VF grade.
£60 SOLD
Roman Provincial AE Coin of Gaius Caesar from Phrygia, Laodicea, c5BC
This little, almost insignificant coin, has caused quite a stir in the last few years. Its correct identification has been argued by experts and enthusiasts alike and others like it have been designated variously at many an auction as Augustus, Caligula, Julius Caesar and Gaius Caesar, but I think its true identity has now been determined, mostly by a process of elimination!
So we have: Phrygia, Laodicea, Gaius Caesar, AE15, obverse: bare head of Gaius right, legend ΓΑΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ either side, on the reverse: ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΩΝ eagle standing, head left, between two monograms which expand to ΠOΛE and ΦIΛOΠAT, Anto Polemon Philopatris, magistrate, 2.15g.
Apart from causing an identity crisis in the numismatic world, it is what this coin represents that captures my imagination. Gaius Caesar, born 20BC, was adopted by Augustus in 17BC, along with his younger brother Lucius Caesar. Having no children of his own Augustus made them his heirs. Unfortunately for Lucius, he died in 2AD, fortunate for Gaius you might say, but not so; he died two years later at the age of 24 in Lycia from wounds sustained during a campaign.
This left Augustus with no heir again and lead him to adopt Gaiuse's other brother Agrippa Postumus and his step-son, Tiberius. Hovering in the background of all this deceit and intrigue was Livia. It is more than likely that she had a hand in Gaius' demise, she had already divorced her husband to marry Augustus to put her son in the right place at the right time. Agrippa Postumus was sent into exile on the island Planasia and in 14AD orders were given by either Tiberius or Livia (most likely Livia in Tiberius' name) for his execution shortly after the death of Augustus. This made Tiberius the sole heir and the rest is history as they say.
The portrait on the coin of Gauis makes it a rare and an early one, no wonder that it was confused with Augustus and Julius Caesar who's portraits are very similar. It could be a portrait of Augustus and the coin produced in the name of Gaius, but it is unlikely. More likely the other way round. He was made consul designatus and princeps iuventutis around 6BC and this coin may have been produced to honour him, but I am only postulating here. The legend of Gaius Caesar would indicate it is Gauis, or, if Augustus, for Gaius in the reign of Augustus. Julius Caesar was his Grandfather through adoption, so it very unlikely to be him and Caligula wasn't really in the picture until some years after.
A slightly better quality coin sold for $600 ten years ago. I am not asking that! The coin has a few scrapes on it but otherwise it's a lovely coin. To purchase this great piece of history use the PayPal link below:
The reverse of the Gaius coin.
£160 SOLD
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