(The 4th & 5th centuries)
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.
13050. LEAD TRIAL STRIKE, 4th century AD. An interesting trial strike of a Roman coin in lead. Diademed hd. of uncertain emperor right./Emperor on horseback. 25 x 25 x 6 cm. Original condition with ancient lead patina. Reverse.
THE TETRARCHY:
CHOICE SHARP PERFECTLY CENTERED EF EXAMPLE 10237. MAXIMIANUS, 286-305. AE Antoninianus, Antioch mint, RIC V 371. His radiate bust right. Reverse: CONCORDIA MILITVM, soldier and emperor supporting Victory together. EF. Remains of silvering. From the Elliot-Kent Collection.
RARE USURPER 11155. DOMITIUS DOMITIANUS. Usurper, AD 297-298. Alexandria mint. BI Octodrachm (24mm, 11.49 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 297/8). Radiate head right / Serapis standing right, holding scepter and raising arm in salute; palm frond to left, LB (date) to right. Koln 3367; Dattari (Savio) 6187; K&G 126.2. Fine, rough brown surfaces. Provenance: Property of Princeton Economics acquired by Martin Armstrong. Ex Durr (16 November 1998), lot 718.
The revolt of Domitius Domitianus in Egypt destabilized a vitally strategic region by interrupting the grain supply to Rome and opening the possibility of Persian (Sasanian) invasion. For almost a year, Domitius Domitianus controlled Alexandria and its mint, striking aurei and folles, as well as a series of pre-reform imperial Greek denominations.
CHOICE SHARP PERFECTLY CENTERED EF EXAMPLE 8624. GALERIUS, 293-311. Follis, Siscia mint, RIC.135b Diademed head r./Moneta stg. l. with scales and cornucopia. AEF. The silvery green patina resulting from the incorporation of the nearly complete original silvering. Impressive in the hand.
CHOICE SHARP PERFECTLY CENTERED EF EXAMPLE 10303. GALERIA VALERIA, Augusta, AD 293(?)-311. AE Follis (23mm, 6.88 g, 6h). Alexandria mint, 3rd officina. Struck AD 308-310. Diademed and draped bust right / Venus standing facing, head left, holding up apple and raising drapery over shoulder; K-Γ/P//ALE. RIC VI 110. Good VF, dark brown patina with lighter green highlights.
CHOICE SHARP PERFECTLY CENTERED EF EXAMPLE 10490. LICINIUS I, AE23mm Follis (3.2g). 312-313 AD. IMP LIC LICINIVS P F AVG, laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust right / IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN, Jupiter, chlamys over shoulder, leaning on scepter, holding Victory on globe; eagle with wreath below left, dot TS dot A dot in ex. EF, nice portrait and excellent olive patina.
10842. NICE QUALITY HELMETED LICINIUS II JR WITH SILVERING. AE20. WELL CENTERED, GOOD OBV AND RV. LICINIUS II, Caesar, AD 317 - 324. AE20 mm. 20mm, 3.21 g. EF with silvering. Obverse: D N VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, helmeted cuirassed bust left holding spear & shield. Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, between eagle & captive, holding Victory on globe & scepter, X/IIΓ (=12.5 denarii) to right.
THE CONSTANTINIAN DYNASTY:
10422. CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, Constantine I, 306-337 AD. AE19. Ornately helmeted bust right. Reverse: Globe on altar inscribed VOTIS XX, BEATA TRANQVILITLITVS, PYR(pellet) in exergue. Sear 3771v. EF. Nice type bust.
CHOICE SHARP PERFECTLY CENTERED EF EXAMPLE 10457. CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, Constantine I, 306-337 AD. AE19. Fine style laureate head right with wonderful curly hair. Reverse: Camp gate, SMANTS in exergue. EF with great style and detail.
RARE COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE 7700. RARE CONSTANTINOPOLIS COMMEMORATIVE THIRD SILIQUA, Struck under Constantine I, circa 330 or later. AR Third Siliqua. Constantinople mint. Helmeted and draped bust of Constantinopolis right / Large K within beaded border. J. P. C. Kent, "Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis Medallions at the mint of Rome," in Essays Presented to Sutherland: Scripta Nummaria Romana, pl. 13, 28.? AR . Helmeted and cuirassed bust r./Large K. VF. Considerably better than photo. Very rare.
S. Bendall offers a tentative typology and chronology for the confusing and little studied late Roman anonymous silver fractions. He accepts the generally agreed conclusion that the earliest, finest style issues were struck for the occasion of the formal dedication of the new capital of Constantinople on 11 May 330. At this time the first Roma head series was struck, as well as the female bust types that probably represent one or more of the prominent women associated with the family of Constantine. Bendall further analyses stylistic variations and reported hoard finds, and suggests that further issues in the series appeared on the anniversary dates of the founding, in 430 and 530 AD, and in addition that variations continued to be struck for other events during the reign of Justinian I, all celebrating his re-conquest of Italy.
SCARCE EMPEROR 10246. DELMATIUS, 335-337, AE16. Obverse: Laureate bust right. Reverse: legionary soldiers and standard. VF. Minute flan crack difficult to see in the hand. Scarcer emperor.
SCARCE EMPEROR 10843. DELMATIUS, 335-337, AE17, 2.63 g. Obverse: Laureate bust right. Reverse: legionary soldiers and 2 standards. EF. Extra sharp reverse. Scarcer emperor.
SCARCE EMPEROR 10329. DELMATIUS, 335-337, AE17. Obverse: Laureate bust right. Reverse: legionary soldiers and standard. VF with choice glossy black green patina.
RARER EMPEROR WITH REALISTIC FINE STYLE PORTRAIT 10439. HANNIBALLIANUS, 335-337. Rex Regum, AD 335-337. AE (15mm, 1.34 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 6th officina. Struck AD 336-337. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Euphrates reclining right, leaning upon scepter; reed behind, urn below from which water flows; CONSc. RIC VII 147; LRBC 1034. VF, black patina under earthen deposits. Scarce.
Hanniballianus, the nephew of Constantine, was given the title of King of Armenia, Pontus, and Cappadocia rather that the normal office of Caesar. He was murdered in the power struggle that ensued after the death of Constantine in 337.
SUPER SHARP HIGH PROFILE REVERSE 10205. CONSTANTIUS II, 337-361 AD. AR Siliqua (16mm, 2.31 g, 6h). Arelate (Arles) mint, 1st officina. Struck AD 353-355. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VOTIS/ XXX/ MVLTIS/ XXX in four lines within laurel wreath; PCON. RIC VIII 207; RSC 342-3c. Lightly toned. Ex. Collection RW. Especially sharp high profile reverse with nice near EF portrait.
CHOICE SHARP PERFECTLY CENTERED EF EXAMPLE 10467. CONSTANTIUS II, 337-361 AD. AE18. Obverse: Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: Two soldiers holding legionary standards. TR.P in exergue. Choice EF. Ex. Collection JA.
THE WANING OF THE EMPIRE:
SCARCE EMPEROR 10725. MAGNUS MAXIMUS, AD 383-388, AE2, Arles mint. Nice green patina. 4.03 g. DN MAG MAXI-MVS PF AVG; Dr., cuir. and pearl-diademed bust right. REPARATIO REIPVB; PCON. in emerge; Emperor, stg. facing, head l., with r. hand raising kneeling turreted female, and holding Victory on globe in l. RIC 26a/2; 3.91g; 24mm; VF. Considerably better than photo.
THE WESTERN PUPPET EMPERORS:
VERY RARE AND APPARENTLY UNPUBLISHED 10307. VALENTINIAN III, AD 425-455. AE (11mm, 0.96 g, 3h). Rome mint. Struck AD 425-circa 435. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Legend in two lines within wreath; [...]OS. Cf. RIC X 2141 (without mm); LRBC -. Near VF, dark green patina. Rare and apparently unpublished.
A perhaps unique variant of a very rare type. RIC (p. 379) lists the general type from Rome but without a mintmark whereas this example has the Rome mintmark.
VERY RARE 11490. ODOVACAR, Ostrogoths in Italy. Odoacer King (476-493). AE 8mm, 0.83 g. in the name of Zeno. Roma mint (?). Obv. [DN ZENO PP AVG]. Diademed and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Monogram of Odovacar within wreath. Cf. Morello 21/2 var. (S monogram reversed). Extremely rare. RRR. F/VF.
The reign of Flavius Odovacar as king of Italy is seen as marking the end of the Western Roman empire. A Germanic general he led the revolt that deposed Romulus Augustus the last Western Roman emperor on 4 September AD 476. Though the true ruler he at first represented himself as ruling in the name of Julius Nepos. However in 480 Nepos was murdered and thenceforth Odoacer, with the backing of the Roman Senate, ruled Italy autonomously as the first king of Italy.
THE EASTERN EMPERORS:
RARE LATE ROMAN EMPRESS 10521. AELIA EUDOXIA, Bronze AE4 15 mm. Antioch mint: 401-403 A.D. Reference: (Antioch) RIC 104 (X, Arcadius), LRBC 2800. Obverse: AEL EVDOXIA AVG; Diademed, draped bust right, being crowned by hand of God. Reverse: SALVS REIPVLICAE; Victory seated right, holding shield with Chi-Rho inside on column. Exergue: ANT. Better than usual example with nice centering, large flan, and all the obverse legend clear. Comes with COA.
