* * *
5476. MARC ANTONY & OCTAVIA, AE16 'Fleet Coinage', RPC 1470. Jugate heads of Marc Antony and Octavia/Roman war galley. This unusual coin is an example of Mark Anthony's "fleet coinage," a series of bronzes in multiple, clearly marked denominations issued shortly after Antony's marriage alliance with Octavian, the nephew of Julius Caesar. The exact dates, the nature and purpose of the series have been the subject of much debate. David Sear in his superb book "History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC," places the commencement of the series in the summer of 38 BC at a still unidentified
Eastern mint. The coins were struck in the names of Antony and three of his admirals--L. Sempronius Atratinus, M. Oppius
Capito, and L. Calpurnius Bibulus, and falls into two distinct series, "heavy" and "light." Most of the coins depict overlapping,
confronting or Janiform portraits of Antony and Octavia, his wife and Octavian's sister. A few also show Octavian, in a
clearly subsidiary position. Reverses almost all feature nautical themes--galleys under full sail, or figures in chariots drawn by
hippocamps. The admiral's names, themes, and the combination of Greek and Latin letters indicate the coins may have been
used to pay sailors in Antony's fleet, and were intended for circulation in his Eastern realm. An intriguing feature of the series is the range of denominations, all Roman, all clearly marked in Greek letters. They range from a large bronze sestertius, previously a small silver coin, marked HS in Latin and the Greek letter-numeral D, or four, indicating a value of four asses. Next comes an unusual denomination, the tressis, or three asses, marked G; then the dupondius, two asses, marked B; and the as, marked A. The series is completed by two fractions, a semis and quadrans, marked S and with three dots (three unciae) respectively. The coin illustrated here is an as, marked A, with jugate portraits of Antony and Octavia on the obverse, a galley under sail on the reverse. It falls into the "light" series, perhaps issued a year after the first release of the coins, on a lighter standard, in the name of Antony and Oppius Capito.
Although this experimental coinage was short-lived and very rare today, it is interesting to note that the great currency reform
started by Octavian, after he had taken the name Augustus and become the first Emperor of Rome, resulted in a bronze coinage
using exactly the same denominations as Anthony's fleet issues.
Achaea. Mark Antony, Fleet Coinage. Circa 38-37 BC. M. Oppius Capito, propraetor & praefectus
classis. Conjoined heads of Antony and Octavia right / Galley under sail right; A below. RPC 1470.
See another, lot 939, estimated at $1500 in CNG Auction 49 where the above commentary was kindly taken from.
5477. MARC ANTONY & OCTAVIA, December, 30 BC. AR Cistophor, SRC 1512. Hd. Antony within wreath/Hd. Octavia over cista mystica, serpents around. VF+. Scarce.
5478. AUGUSTUS, AR Tetradrachm of Antioch. /Tyche std. with river god swimming below. VF.
5479. AUGUSTUS, AE15 of Cyprus. /Temple of Paphian Aprodite, sacred cone within, paved hemispheric courtyard before. VF. Rare.
5480. TIBERIUS & LIVIA, AE23 of Thessalonika, Macedon, RPC _. Laur. hd. Tiberius l./Veiled bust Livia l. Nie EF. Very rare. Probably one of the finest known.
5481. A RARE ROMAN TESSERA, ca. 1st-2nd century AD. AE16, Cf. Göbl, Antike Numismatik, plate IX, 104. Anepigraphic, long torch within beaded border (or sceptre topped by victory?)/APPF within wreath within beaded border. Rare. Excellent EF example.
5482. CALIGULA, AE AS, Bust of Caligula to left, C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON MTR POT
Veiled Vesta, seated on throne, holding sceptre and patera, VESTA above, SC. Fully centered, nice forest green patina. VF.
5483. CLAUDIUS, 41-54 AD. AR Denarius, SRC 1832, HRIC 7. /IMPER RECEPT, the legend inscribed on the wall of the Praetorian guard's camp with a soldier (or possibly Claudius) standing on the ramparts beside a legionary eagle. VF+. This remarkable type refers to the night Claudius spent in the Praetorian camp following the murder of Caligula, and thus directly acknowledges the new emperor-making role of the Praetorian Guard. A remarkable and important historical type. Rare.
5709. NERO CLAUDIUS DRUSUS, by Claudius, ca. 50-54 AD. Sestertius, RIC 114. Laur. bust r./Triumphal arch surmounted by equestrian statue spearing downwards between two trophies, NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP SC. VF. Nice architectural rv. Rare and better than photo.
5710. NERO, 64 AD. Port of Ostia Sestertius, RIC 181. Laur. bust r. wearing aegis/View of the port of Ostia, Pharos at top surmounted by statue of Neptune, reclining figure of the River Tiber at bottom, eight ships within the harbor, the docks, quays and warves visible to both sides. AVGVSTI S POR OST C. VF. Nice well centered example with contrasting patina. Excellent detail even down to minute human figures busily manning ships and furling sails. This remarkable type gives a wonderfully detailed scene of activity taking place within the harbor. Note the two ships under full sail entering the harbor past the statue of Neptune at top, each with a number of sailors visible standing on the decks. The ship furtherest into the harbor also has oars in the water for greater manuverability within the confines of the harbor. In the center a large ship is visible with sailors furling the sails, one on the deck to left handling the ropes, two atop the mast, and one climbing the rigging to the right. To the left one can see three ships tied up at the docks, the upper two sailing vessels with sails furled, the lower smaller vessel without a sail but with oars visible. On the center ship one can make out what appears to be a gangplank reaching from the ship to the dock with a figure crossing over to the dock. On the lower right are two additional ships, the upper a large sailing ship with sails furled, while below it a small oared boat manned by three or four men rows toward the entrance of the river Tiber, likely one of the vessels used to ferry offloaded goods up the river to Rome. And at the bottom where the river Tiber enters the harbor, the large reclining figure of Tiber, the god of the river. Very rare and one of the most sought after of ancient coins. An excellent example worthy of the finest collection.
5484. NERO, AR Tetradrachm of Antioch. /Eagle with wreath. VF.
5485. NERO, AR Denarius. /Salus. Decent portrait. AVF.
5486. NERO, 54-68AD. Denarius, C119. /Jupiter Custos. Refers to Jupiter's aid in Pisonian
conspiracy. AVF. Nice portrait
5487. OTHO, AR Denarius. /. Decent portrait. F+.
5488. VITELLIUS, 69AD. Denarius, H21. /XVVIR SACRFAC, tripod-lebes, dolphin above,
raven below. AVF. Sharper than image!
5489. VESPASIAN, 69-79, Denarius. /JUDAEA CAPTA, Female Judaean captive beneath
trophy. F+. Sharper than image!
5490. LUCIUS VERUS, 161-169. AR Denarius. /Aequitas stg. l. EF+. Choice example!
5491. ANTONINUS PIUS. AR Denarius. /GENIO SENATVS, Genius of the Roman senate stg. EF+ with natural toning and traces of mint luster. Choice example!
5492. MARCUS AURELIUS, 139-180. Dupondius. /Donative scene with Aurelius on platform distributing
coins. AVF. Better than image.
5493. PERTINAX, 87 days in 193 AD. AE Sestertius, HRIC 15 ($3000-$10,000). /OPI DIVIN TR P COS II SC, Ops std l. holding grain ears. VF+. Light deposits. Very rare.
5494. PESCENNIUS NIGER, 193-194 AD. Denarius, ($1000-$3000). /PIETAS AVG, Pietas stg. l. sacrificing over lighted altar. VF+. Rare. Nice clear portrait.
5495. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS & JULIA DOMNA. AE37 of Stratoniceia, GIC 2291. Caracalla
cm/Hekate with torch, dog. AVF. Very rare!
5496. MACRINUS, 217-218. Sestertius, HRIC 32/2v. /Fides stg. facing, hd. l. with two standards. EF. Rare this nice.
5497. DIADUMENIAN, 218 AD. AE20 of uncertain Eastern city. /Dionysos stg. l. with cornucopia and thyrsos, panther at his feet. AVF. Scarce.
5498. JULIA MAMAEA, mother of Alexander Severus. Denarius. /Juno std. EF. Much sharper than image which was accidentally blured by graphics program.
5499. PHILIP I & PHILIP II, AE31 of Antioch. Facing busts/City goddess in temple, ram
above. VF. Nice large provincial bronze.
5500. BALBINUS, 238 AD. AR Antoninianus. /Clasped hands. EF+. Choice example well centered and sharply struck on medallic flan.
5501. GORDIAN II, March 19-April 12, 238 AD. AR Denarius. /PROVIDENTIA AVGG, Providentia stg. l. EF on broad medallic flan. Very rare.
5502. GORDIAN III, 238-244. AE36 of Nysa, Lydia, GIC_. /Triptolemus in chariot drawn by
winged serpents. F+. Very Rare.
5503. MARINIANA, wife Valerian, 253-260AD. Antoninianus, Sear 2929. /Peacock carrying her to heaven. EF+. Choice example!
5504. HONORIUS, 395-423. AR Siliqua, Ravenna mint. /Roma std. holding scepters. EF. Rare Ravenna mint specimen!
5505. JAMAICA, CHARLES V & JOHANNA, 1540-1600, 4 marivedis. Typically worn example of the first bronze
coinage struck in the new world. F. Rare.
