(1st century, the 12 Caesars)
6229. SOTHEBY'S, THE NELSON BUNKER HUNT COLLECTION, HIGHLY IMPORTANT GREEK AND ROMAN COINS, December 4. 1990. Hard bound. As new. The billionaire oil tycoon's collection of some of the finest Greek and Roman coins known. Every coin illustrated enlarged and in color. Choice eye candy for anyone who loves ancient Greek and Roman coins! With the finest coins of the several hard bound catalogues of the Nelson Bunker Hunt collection. Provenance: A private American collection, acquired at the NJ Book Show October, 2001.
$200.
THE JULIO-CLAUDIANS ( Family Tree )
THE ROMAN FORUM 1876 11684. LE FORUM ROMAIN, ET LES FORUMS DE JULES CESAR, D'AUGUSTE, DE VESPASIEN, DE NERVA ET DE TRAJAN, Par Ferdinand Dutert, 1876. Elephant folio 13 x 20 x 0.75 inches. Original leather binding and finely marbled end pages. 45 pages of text with interspersed engravings including a number of architectural coin reverses. 9 full page engravings, about half double page, one plate missing. Sound and in generally excellent condition with minimal foxing and matching protective leather strips on top and bottom of spine. Cover. End plate marbling.
HUNDREDS OF ROMAN COIN ENGRAVINGS 6590. LES CESARS DE L'EMPEREUR JULIEN, Baron Spanheim, 1728. contempory calf boards, rebacked, gilt stamped, marbled. Contains hundreds of choice Roman and provincial coin engravings. 7.5 x 9.5". Generally excellent condition.
MAGNIFICENT VICTORIAN BRONZE OF HORACE, FRIEND & CONFIDANT OF AUGUSTUS 8418. THE ROMAN POET HORACE. Victorian England, 19th century. The great Roman poet depicted seated in a curule chair wearing a poet's laurel wreath and a long toga, the hem of which he holds up in his left hand, his right hand grasping his writing stylus over a scroll on which is written "DEL ART / CHAMPETRE / HEUREUX QUI / DE SES MAINS / COMME NOS / PREMIERS PERES / CULTIVE EN PAIX / SES CHAMPS ET / VIT LIBRE / DAFFAIRES. ORACE / ART", a quote from his work, which roughly translates as: "Led happy pastoral art, which with their own hands our fore fathers cultivated their fields in peace and saw freedom in their affairs. Horace". 11 x 16.5 x 9 inches. 26 lbs. Foundry stamp 3876 on back of base. Unsigned. A choice original Victorian classical bronze with beautiful fine detail even down to the tiny wolf heads ornamenting his sandals. Excellent condition with fine original patina and no problems. A masterpiece of classical Victorian sculpture.
The Roman poet HORACE (65-8 BC), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus, and a friend and confidant of that emperor. His 'Odes' and other works have long been considered among the greatest poems ever written and have been taught and studied from antiquity up until modern times, and they have influenced the work of countless other poets throughout the ages. In short Horace is universally considered one of the greatest poets of all times.
Provenance: A private American collection. Acquired at auction in September 2006.
6594. AUGUSTUS, by C. Plotius Rufus, 15BC. As, RIC.389. Bare hd Augustus r./C PLOTIVS RVFVS III VIR A A A FF SC. VF, better than Triton XI , Lot: 789 which went for $850 plus 20% buyer's fee.\. Scarce.
SUPERIOR CLEAR EXAMPLE 10227. AUGUSTUS WITH AGRIPPA, GAUL, NEMAUSUS. Augustus, with Agrippa. 27 BC-AD 14. AE As (28mm, 13.35 g, 12h). Struck circa 9-3 BC. Back to back heads of Agrippa, wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath, and Augustus, laureate / Crocodile right, chained to palm frond with wreath at top; two palm fronds at base. RPC I 524; RIC I 158. VF, black patina, some minor roughness and marks. A superior example much clearer than most.
RARE GREAT VERY FINE STYLE, WELL CENTERED WITH BEAUTIFUL GLOSSY BLACK PATINA EXAMPLE 10277. TIBERIUS, 14-37. AE dupondius. Commagene mint. Struck 19/20 AD. 29 mm, 15.8 g. TI CAESAR DIVI AVGVSTI F AVGVSTVS, laureate head. Reverse - PON MAXIM COS III IMP VII TR POT XXII, crossed cornucopia and winged caduceus. RPC 3869, RIC 90. Large 30mm flan, heavy 14.6g. EF with choice glossy black patina. One of the best examples I've seen.
The caduceus was originally the herald's staff carried by Mercury, the messenger of the gods. Although it was adorned with vines at one time, it came to be decorated with intertwined snakes as the result of an incident in which Mercury used the staff to separate two fighting snakes. Thus the caduceus became a representation of the resolution of quarrels, and since snakes were also closely associated with healing, it also became the symbol of the medical profession. Roman gods and goddesses often had multiple duties, and Mercury moonlighted as the god of trade. He is additionally represented on this coin by the two cornucopias which signify commercial prosperity. The obverse inscription TI CAESAR DIVI AUGUSTI F AUGUSTUS (Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus) was a bit of propaganda by Tiberius to associate himself with his popular stepfather. Bronze coins with Tiberius' portrait are scarce, especially anywhere nearly as nice as this exceptional piece. A beautiful coin with a fine silky black patina.
6596. TIBERIUS. AE As. /SC. EF. Nice example.
RARE CLEAR PORTRAITS OF SONS OF DRUSUS AND LIVILLA 11027. TIBERIUS GEMELLUS and GERMANICUS GEMELLUS, sons of Drusus and Livilla. AD 19-37/8 and 19-23/4, respectively. AE Sestertius (32mm, 25.97 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Tiberius, AD 22-23. Crossed cornucopias, each surmounted by the bust of a boy, vis-a-vis; winged caduceus between / Large S C. RIC I 42 (Tiberius). VF, green patina, traces of earthen highlights. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 76 (12 September 2007), lot 1371. Rare.
RARE PORTRAIT OF MARC ANTONY'S DAUGHTER 10155. ANTONIA - DAUGHTER OF OF MARC ANTONY AND OCTAVIA. Dupondius, RIC (Claudius) 92- Struck under Claudius. 30mm, 12g. Obverse: ANTONIA AVGVSTA; her draped bust right. Reverse: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP; togate figure of Claudius as a priest standing left holding a simpulum. VF with some smoothing of obverse fields. Somewhat better than photo. Scarce.
FATHER OF CALIGULA 6597. CHOICE EF GERMANICUS. AE As by Caligula. /Large SC. EF. Choice example with great detailed portrait much better than photo.
MOTHER OF CALIGULA 6604. AGRIPPINA. AE Sestertius. /SC. Excellent style EF portrait.
RARE CHOICE SHARP EXAMPLE 11315. NERO and DRUSUS CAESARS, AE As of Carthago Nova, Spain. Struck by Tiberius. AD 14-37. AE AS (29mm, 15.49 g, 5h). Struck AD 23-29. Bare head of Tiberius left / Confronted bare-headed and draped busts of Nero and Drusus. ACIP 3149; RPC I 179. Near VF, brown patina very rare this nice. Great example with choice portrait busts of Nero and Drusus caesars for these as well as a fine style bust of Tiberius. An interesting dynastic issue. Scarce.
These two caesars are not the same persons as the later emperor Nero, and Drusus, the son of Tiberius, of the same names who are listed separately below. Nero and Drusus caesars were eventually accused of plotting against Tiberius and imprisoned. Drusus caesar was starved to death, at the end gnawing on his bedding to survive. Nero caesar was imprisoned on the island of Ponza and also either starved to death or forced to commit suicide.
6600. CLAUDIUS. AE As. /Libertas stg. Near EF considerably better than photo.
CLAUDIUS SESTERTIUS WITH BOLD NERO COUNTERMARK 8920. CLAUDIUS, 41-54. Sestertius (with Nero countermark). See HRIC Nero. Fine style portrait Claudius, NCAPR countermark/OB CIVES SERVATOS within oak wreath. AVF.
RARE BRITANNICUS SON OF CLAUDIUS AND MESSALINA 11142. BRITANNICUS, AD 41-55, Smyrna, Ionia, son of Claudius and Messalina, 41-54 AD, 3.96 g, struck under Claudius 50-54 AD, 17.0mm. Obv: ZYM; draped bareheaded bust right. Rev: Nike advancing right, carrying trophy. SNG Copenhagen 1349ff; BMC Ionia p270, 283f. Good VF, excellent style portrait for type, better in-hand.
RARE NERO PROVINCIAL SESTERTIUS 7675. NERO, 54-68 AD. AE33 of Perinthos. /PERINQIWN within oak-wreath. VF. Choice example of this scarce sestertius sized provincial bronze of Nero. Good VF with perfectly centered obverse with sharp legends.
BEAUTIFUL NERO PORTRAIT 6610. NERO. AE Sestertius. /Annona & Ceres. EF/VF. Perfectly centered with superb sharp fine style portrait of Nero!
BOLD FINE STYLE HIGH RELIEF PORTRAIT 7941. LARGE PROVINCIAL SESTERTIUS, NERO, 54-68 AD. AE33 of Perinthos, Thrace struck 59-63 AD. [NEPWN K]AISAP ΣEBAΣTO[Σ]. Laureate bust left./[Π]EPIN / ΘIΩN. Apollo, chlayms behind left shoulder, loins draped, standing left, holding patera and sceptre. Schonert 230; RPC 1753; Varbanov 11. AEF. Beautiful young portrait of Nero. Rare.
9430. CHOICE NERO QUADRANS, 50-68 AD. AE Quadrans, HRIC 37. Helmet on column, against which rests a shield/Laurel branch. VF+. Rare. Choice example with excellent glossy jade green patina. Better than photo.
RARE COIN WITH STATILIA MESSALINA ANOTHER WIFE OF NERO. 11307. NERO AND STATILIA MESSALINA. Silver Denarius, 17mm (3.41 grams). Rome mint: struck 64-66 A.D. according to the references but almost certainly struck in AD 66 to celebrate her marriage to Nero and her assumption of the title of Augusta in that year. Reference: RIC I 45 and 57; BMCRE 54; BN 201; WCN 55; RSC 43. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Nero right. / AVGVSTVS AVGVSTA, Nero, radiate, on left, holding patera and scepter, and Statilia Messalina on right, holding patera and cornucopiae, both standing facing. Choice example with very fine style high relief portrait of Nero with excellent metal.
THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD OF 68-69
THE FLAVIANS, 69-96 AD
APPARENTLY ONLY THE SECOND KNOWN EXAMPLE AND THE ONLY ONE IN PRIVATE HANDS! 11590. VESPASIAN, 69-79 AD. AE35, 24.54 g. Sestertius. Lugdunum mint. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR PPP COS III. Laureate head of Vespasian right. Rv. JUDAEA CAPTA SC; Jewess captive seated right under a palm tree mourning; to left of palm tree a male Jewish captive standing left with hands bound behind back looking left. RIC 1205v with the male Jew looking left rather than right. VF with somewhat rough surfaces. An excessively rare Judaea Capta variant, apparently only the second known of this type, the other in the Ashmoleon Museum at Oxford.
CHOICE EF PORTRAIT! 10438. VESPASIAN, 69-79, AE As. (27mm, 11.41 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 76. Laureate head right / Victory standing right on prow, holding wreath and palm. RIC II 897. EF, green patina.
RARE JUDAEA CAPTA 10170. VESPASIAN, 69-79, JUDAEA CAPTA with AGRIPPA II. AE27. JUDAEA, Roman Administration. Agrippa II, with Vespasian. Circa 50-100 CE. AE 28mm (15.55 g, 12h). Dated RY 27 (CE 86/7). AYTOKPA OYECPACI KAICAPI CEBACTw, laureate head of Vespasian right / Tyche standing left, holding grain ears and cornucopia; to left, crescent moon; date across field. RPC II 2283; Meshorer 166; Hendin 619. VF, rich contrasty brown and tan desert patina. Extremely rare, and of comparable quality to the specimens illustrated in RPC and Hendin.
While there is much debate regarding the calculation of Agrippa's regnal dates, both place this issue well within the reign of Domitian. The portrait of Vespasian, who had died seven years earlier, must then represent him as Divus Vespasian. As the obverse legend makes no reference to his divine status, it quite probable that Agrippa II was balancing his avid support for the Flavian dynasty, with whom he had allied upon Vespasian's elevation, along with his respect for Judaic religious restriction regarding perceived idolatry by referring to the late emperor as a god.
RARE LARGE DYNASTIC BRONZE 6124. VESPASIAN AND TITUS, Alexandria, year 8 (A.D. 75-76). Drachm (18.03 gm). Obverse laureate head of Vespasian right. Reverse laureate head of Titus right. Koln 307. Dattari 351 var. Milne 443 var. VF, buff-brown patina. Rare and a choice portrait example much superior to Triton XXI, Lot: 33 which went for $2250 plus 20% buyer's fee.
RARE PORTRAIT OF JULIA TITI DAUGHTER OF TITUS 9496. JULIA TITI, daughter of Titus. AE As, HRIC_. Bust r. with hair in bun/Ceres std. l. Rare. A sharp EF well centered portrait of this rare lady. See an only slightly better one that sold for $40,000 in Triton XVIII, and superior to CNG 69, Lot: 1393 which went for $1500 plus 18% buyer's fee.
SOME VERY FINE DETAIL 7806. JULIA TITI, daughter of Titus. Sestertius, Vagi 1059. Carpentum drawn r. by two mules. /Large SC. VF/F. Rare. Much fine detail in the obverse including even the head of a female riding in the carpentum.
10202. DOMITIAN SESTERTIUS, AD 81-96. AE Sestertius (36mm, 25.62 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 90-91. Laureate head right / Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and scepter. RIC II 702. VF, dark green-brown patina, some roughness on reverse. Superior to CNG 67, Lot: 1394 which sold for $1800 plus 18% buyer's fee. Ex. Collection RW.
VERY RARE 37 MM DOMITIAN MEDALLION! 11048. DOMITIAN MEDALLION, AD 81-96. Thrace, Philippopolis. AE Medallion (37mm, 25.39 g, 7h). Struck AD 88-89. Laureate head right / Tyche standing facing, head left, holding grain ears; to lower left, river god Hebrus reclining right, leaning on overturned urn and holding branch. Mouchmov, Philippopolis 3; Varbanov 620; RPC II 351. VF, green patina. Scarce. A nice example.
RARE SECULAR GAMES ISSUE 10146. DOMITIAN, Caesar: 69-81 A.D. Emperor: 81-96 A.D. Bronze Dupondius 32mm (11.31 grams) Rome mint: 14 Sep - 31 Dec, 88 AD. Reference: RIC 623; Sear'88 #910. Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P, laureate head right. Reverse: COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC, Domitian standing left sacrificing from patera over altar, with hexastyle temple in background, two attendants playing harp and pan pipes to left, SC in emerge. VF, Rare, see another from CNG that sold for $3950 from their coin shop.
In 88 AD, Domitian initiated the Saecular Games (LVDI SAECVLVM), a celebration to mark the commencement of a new age, or Saeculum. The games were first celebrated in either 348 or 249 BC and were supposed to be held every 100 to 105 years; however, after 146 BC the schedule was thrown off track by civil wars and disruptions, and the next Saeculum was not celebrated until Augustus did so in 17 BC. Claudius, using the earlier formula, celebrated a new set in 47 AD, but Domitian dated his Saeculum from the Augustan games 105 years previous. The reverse of this handsome coins shows Domitian opening the games with a sacrifice before the Temple of Jupiter Stator, attended by two flute-playing musicians. AVF, a rare and interesting reverse.
SCARCE DOMITIAN SILVER CISTOPHORIC TETRADRACHM 9458. DOMITIAN LEGIONARY STANDARDS CISTOPHOR, 69-96 AD. AR26 Cistophorus, Crawford 667. Bust r./Legionary standards. Nice VF. Scarce.
EXTREMELY RARE ROMAN PORTRAIT! 11517. VESPASIAN JR., c. 88-95 AD, struck 94/95 AD at Smyrna, Ionia. AE (17 mm, 2.321 g, 12h). Obverse: OYHΣΠAΣIANOΣ NEOTEPOC bare headed bust of Vespasian Junior right. Reverse: ΣMYPNAIΩN, Nike advancing right holding palm branch. BMC 316; RPC II 1028; Kose Plate 31 V4/R7; Vagi 1164. Dark green patina. VF. Extremely rare. RR! Only a few examples known, this among the better ones.
After Domitian's own son died in 82 AD a successor to the throne was lacking. In order to have heirs for his title, Domitian adopted two sons of his cousin Flavius Clemens and Flavia Domitilla III (see entry above) who were his great-nephews. They were renamed Vespasianus and Domitianus. Vespasianus Jr. was originally named Titus Flavius Domitianus. However he soon realized that having potential heirs meant a potential rival and possible assassination. So he had their father Flavius Clemens executed in 95 AD and their mother Domitilla III banished and the two boys either killed or exiled though their exact fate is unknown. This act recoiled on him as he was soon murdered by Stefanus, the steward of Flavia Domitilla III. There are no known coins bearing a name or portrait for Domitian Jr., and only this single issue for Vespasian Jr.
