Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 25

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

The Friedberg Collection: Ancient Judean Coins

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 3026		4th century BC. AR Obol (0.70g). Helmeted head right of Athena. Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing; in lower right field, name of Samaritan goveror (Hananyah). Meshorer and Qedar (Samarian Coinage) 38. Very rare. Fine / VF. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3027		4th century BC. AR Obol (0.53g). Head right; to left and right, name of Samaritan governor (Hiyam). Reverse: Head right; around, beaded and double linear border. Meshorer and Qedar (Samarian Coinage) 36. Quite exceptional for issue. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $750 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3028		4th century BC. AR Obol (0.74g). Head right. Reverse: Two standing figures facing each other; between them, name of Samaritan governor (Jeroboam). Meshorer and Qedar (The Coinage of Samaria in the Fourth Century BCE) 25. Distinct reverse name. Fine / Choice VF. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3029		4th century BC. AR Obol (0.52g). Satrap wearing Persian tiara seated right, holding arrow; to right, name of Samaritan governor (Jeroboam). Reverse: Two standing figures facing each other in a shrine. Meshorer and Qedar (Samarian Coinage) 45. The inscription and reverse being particularly well-delineated. Extremely Fine. The die engraver was most successful in giving this reverse an architecturally correct, three-dimensional feeling. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3030		4th century BC. AR Obol (0.54g). Crowned and bearded head right of Persian king. Reverse: Lion seated left with raised right paw; in upper right field, name of Samaritan governor (Sanballat). Meshorer and Qedar (The Coinage of Samaria in the Fourth Century BCE) 42. Very Fine / Extremely Fine. One of the great fascinations of numismatics is that, while coins seem to stand alone in their trays, they bespeak connections which are shared with so many other studies. The masterfully executed Akkadian cylinder seals first mention the name Sanballat (a possible ancestor of this governor) in association with the moon cult and the derivation of his name can be translated "moon god gave life (to him)." Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $805
Lot 3031		4th century BC. AR Drachm (3.76g). Helmeted head right of Athena. Reverse: Janiform head with bearded face to right, famale (?) face to left; under left profile, letter (perhaps a daleth, signifying the name Delayah?). Missing in the major sources, but cf. Babelon, Traité, plate 123 for similar janiform portrayals. Somewhat porous. Fine / Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3032		Yehud Coinage. 4th century BC. AR Hemiobol (0.25g). Youthful male head left. Reverse: Forepart of winged lynx left; in lower right field, name (Yehezqiyah, most probably a satrap of the land of Judah under Persian rule). TJC (A Treasury of Jewish Coins by Y. Mershorer) 24. H-433. Sharp inscription. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 900. Ex Superior's Herbst Collection, 8 XII 95, lot 1069. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $978
Lot 3033		Yehud Coinage. 4th century BC. AR Hemiobol (0.22g). Facing head. Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing; in field, name and title (Yehezqiyah the Satrap). TJC 22a. Obverse off-center, otherwise. Very Good to Fine. Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $288
Lot 3034		4th Century BC. AR Obol (0.51g). Head right in imitation of Athenian types; underneath chin, arc. Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing; in right field, inscription (Yehud). Cf. Mesh2 plate 4SR. TJC 6. H-426. Obverse off-center as usual, VF / Choice Very Fine with clear inscription. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details	Realized $460
Lot 3035		Yehud Coinage. 4th century BC. AR Quarter Obol (0.15g). [Young male head left] or blank. Reverse: Eagle standing left with spread wings; to left, inscription (Yehud). Cf. TJC 29 with identical reverse type, male head on obverse. Reverse has crisply formed letters. Extremely Fine. There is an abnormally high number of obverses that are very off-center, or even missing entirely on the flans, of the Yehud issues. The reverses tend to be much better centered, perhaps because of the inscription being there, and/or the precise method of manufacturing these minuscule coins. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $276
Lot 3036		Ptolemaic Coinage of Judaea. Ptolemy II, 285-246 BC. AR Quarter Obol (0.11g). Diademed head right of Ptolemy I. Reverse: Eagle with spread wings standing left; to left, inscription (Yehud). TJC 31a. H-438. Remarkable for this issue! Choice Very Fine / Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $500 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $460
Lot 3037		Ptolemaic Coinage of Judaea. Ptolemy II, 285-246 BC. AR Quarter Obol (0.12g). Diademed head right of Ptolemy I. Reverse: Eagle with spread wings standing left; to left, inscription (Yehud). TJC 31a. H-438. About Very Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 400. Ex Superior's J.B. Parker Collection, 2 VI 98, lot 6521. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3038		Lot of Nine Bronzes. Four are Prutahs, plus one Lepton minted under Hyrcanus I; additionally, four Prutahs of Alexander Yannai (Jannaeus) are included. Lot of 9 coins. Condition averages Fine to Very Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details	Realized $276
Lot 3039		Lot of Four Coins. AE Prutot of John Hyrcanus I, Alexander Yannai and Judah Aristobulus I plus a Gaza AR Obol in imitation of Athenian types complement this grouping from the Friedenberg collection. Lot of 4 coins. Condition averages About Very Fine. Estimated Value $250 - 350. View details	Realized $276
Lot 3040		Lot of Three Nice Fine Bronzes minted under Mattityah (Mattathias) Antigonus, 40-37 BC. AE 22, TJC 36 (H-481); AE 18, TJC 37 (H-482); AE 12, TJC 40 (H-483). Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $275 - 375. View details	Unsold
Lot 3041		Herod the Great, 37-4 BC. AE 15 minted at Samaria. Aphlaston. Reverse: Palm branch with fillet. TJC 47b (same obverse die). H-489 variety. Reverse off-center (similar to the TJC specimen), otherwise Extremely Fine for issue. The aphlaston (the Latin term is aplustre) is an ornamented extension of the stern of a sea-going vessel. It is normally associated with a naval victory or general power of the seas. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 3042		Lot of Four Bronzes of Herod the Great, 37-4 BC. Two are of the larger module tripod-lebes/helmet type (TJC 44, H-486) and two display anchor/cornuacopiae (TJC 59, H-500). Lot of 4 coins. Condition averages Nice Fine. Estimated Value $275 - 375. View details	Realized $276
Lot 3043		Lot of Three Nice Fine Bronzes of Herod Archelaus, 4 BC - AD 6. An AE 18 (2 prutot: TJC 70, H-503) and two prutahs (TJC 69, H-507) comprise this grouping. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $175 - 250. View details	Realized $161
Lot 3044		Herod Antipas, 4 BC - AD 39. AE 14 minted at Tiberias, dated year 33 (AD 28/9). Palm branch; in field, date. Reverse: Inscription within wreath. Mesh2 7. TJC 81. H-514. Extremely Fine / Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 3045		Herod Antipas, 4 BC - AD 39. AE 18 minted at Tiberias, dated year 37 (AD 32/3). Palm branch; in field, date. Reverse: Inscription within wreath. Mesh2 14. TJC 88. H-521. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 3046		Herod Antipas, 4 BC - AD 39. AE 18 minted at Tiberias, dated year 43 (AD 39). Palm branch; in field, date. Reverse: Inscription within wreath. Mesh2 18. TJC 92. H-525. Very Fine. The coins issued in the final year of the reign are the rarest of Herod Antipas, who ordered the demise of John the Baptist. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $518
Lot 3047		Herod Philip, 4 BC - AD 34. AE 17 dated year 12 (AD 8/9). Head left of Augustus. Reverse: Tetrastyle temple (the Augusteum in Paneas); between columns, date. TJC 98. H-532v. Fine / Very Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 3048		Herod Philip, 4 BC - AD 34. AE 19 dated year 33 (AD 29/30). Laureate head right of Tiberius. Reverse: Tetrastyle temple (the Augusteum in Paneas); between columns, date. TJC 104. H-537. Very Good / Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500. Ex Herbst Collection, 8 XII 95, lot 1156. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3049		Herod Philip, 4 BC - AD 34. AE 10 dated year 34 (AD 30/31). Bare head of Philip right. Reverse: Date within wreath. Mesh2 12. TJC 108. H-541. Very rare. Very Fine / Good. Herod Philip was the first Jewish ruler to place his own portrait on a coin. Salome was Philip's niece as well as his wife. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3050		Herod Agrippa I, AD 37-43. AE 19 minted at Caesarea, dated year 7 (AD 42/3). Diademed and draped bust right of Agrippa I. Reverse: Tyche of Caesarea standing to left, resting right hand on rudder and holding branch in left; in right field, date. Mesh1 90. TJC 122. H-555. Very rare. Very Fine. While the specimen pictured in Numismatic Legacy of the Jews is better centered, this coin displays a compelling portrait of this friend of Caligula and descendant of the Maccabees. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,900
Lot 3051		Lot of Three Bronzes. Two are Prutahs minted under Agrippa I (canopy/three ears of barley; H-553), plus one AE 17 minted under Agrippa II, dated year 24 (Domitian/Nike, H-604). Lot of 3 coins. Condition averages Very Fine, or nearly so. Estimated Value $225 - 325. View details	Realized $207
Lot 3052		Herod Agrippa II, AD 56-95. AE 16 dated year 25 (AD 85/6). Laureate head right of Domitian. Reverse: Palm tree; date and inscription in field. TJC 156. H-607. Somewhat off-center; Very Fine. Estimated Value $225 - 325. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $207
Lot 3053		Herod Agrippa II, AD 56-95. AE 27 dated year 26 (AD 86/7). Laureate head right of Vespasian. Reverse: Tyche-Demeter standing left, holding ears of grain and cornucopiae. Mesh1 105. TJC 158. H-610. Uneven surfaces, otherwise Fine to Very Fine. Estimated Value $275 - 425. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3054		Herod Agrippa II, AD 56-95. AE 16 dated year 27 (AD 87/8). Laureate head right of Domitian. Reverse: Cornuacopiae crossed. Mesh2 43. TJC 171. H-623. Rare. Obverse off-center; Very Fine / Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 3055		[Herod Agrippa II, AD 56-95.] AE 23 minted at Tiberias, dated year 13 (AD 53/4) under Claudius. Upright palm branch; date in field. Reverse: Greek inscription within wreath. RPC I, 4851. Maltiel-Gerstenfeld 150 (this coin). H-. Rare. Porous, otherwise Very Fine. For an explanation and illustration of a smaller denomination of the same issue, which was probably civic in nature, see NLJ 68. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 3056		Lot of Nine Fine to Very Fine Prutahs. Coponius (H-635), Ambibulus (H-638, two pieces), Antonius Felix (H-651, two; H-652, two) and Porcius Festus (H-653, two). Lot of 9 coins. Estimated Value $225 - 375. View details	Realized $265
Lot 3057		Lot of Nine Prutahs. Coponius (H-636), Valerius Gratus (H-640; H-643; H-645; H-647) and Pontius Pilate (H-648, two; H-649, two). Lot of 9 coins. Condition averages About Very Fine. Estimated Value $275 - 425. View details	Realized $322
Lot 3058		AR Shekel (13.70g) dated year 1 (AD 66/7). Temple vessel with pearl on either side; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Cf. NLJ 81 (same obverse die). Mesh1 148. H-655. Some deposits, mainly confined to edge; otherwise, Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,750. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,438
Lot 3059		AR Half Shekel (6.34g) dated year 1 (AD 66/7). Temple vessel with pearl on either side; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Mesh1 149. H-656. Very Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,208
Lot 3060		AR Shekel (14.24g) dated year 2 (AD 67/8). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Mesh1 151. H-659. Sound metal and beautiful multicolored toning; very nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,610
Lot 3061		AR Shekel (14.20g) dated year 2 (AD 67/8). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Mesh1 151. H-659. From well-executed dies with some toning/light oxidation. Of good metal. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,265
Lot 3062		AR Half Shekel (6.54g) dated year 2 (AD 67/8). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Cf. NLJ 85 (same obverse die). Mesh1 152. H-660. Choice Very Fine. Practical experience, as well as die couplings, have shown numismatists that the half shekels are much scarcer than their full-denomination counterparts. Estimated Value $750 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,208
Lot 3063		AR Half Shekel (6.62g) dated year 2 (AD 67/8). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Cf. NLJ 85 (same obverse die). Mesh1 152. H-660. Nicely toned in tones of yellow, ochre and blue. Very Fine. As evidenced by the die-breaks, we have here an earlier striking of this obverse die, and yet the coin shows more die rusting around some of the inscription. Dies were normally "improved" as time went on, and the lower die (obverse), being more protected, could be used for a much longer period. During the Bar Kokhba War, for instance, one obverse die (Mildenberg 14) was used for at least two years, having been paired with a remarkable 29 different reverse dies! Estimated Value $750 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,208
Lot 3064		AR Shekel (14.22g) dated year 3 (AD 68/9). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Cf. NLJ 87 (same dies). Mesh1 154. H-662. Of impeccable soundness of metal and condition; exactly what a showpiece shekel should look like. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,725
Lot 3065		AR Shekel (14.24g) dated year 3 (AD 68/9). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Mesh1 154. H-662. Toned, with light deposits of silver chloride, but none heavy or disturbing. Very little actual wear and boldly struck. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,380
Lot 3066		AR Half Shekel (7.08g) dated year 3 (AD 68/9). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. Cf. NLJ 88 (same dies). Mesh1 155. H-663. Attractive. Very Fine. Estimated Value $700 - 800. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,380
Lot 3067		AR Shekel (13.82g) dated year 4 (AD 69/70). Temple vessel with nine pearls across the rim; above, date. Reverse: Stem with three pomegranate fruits. NLJ 89. TJC 207 (this obverse die). H-665. Only the slightest porosity is evident on the reverse. Extremely Fine. This remarkable specimen is a very early striking of the obverse die and is certainly one of the finest known of this very rare coin, which, when it appears, is usually in F-VF condition. This beauty is one of the finest we have seen and should stir considerable bidder interest. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3068		AE Medium Bronze (22.5mm) dated year 4 (AD 69/70). Etrog; inscription around ("For the redemption of Zion"). Reverse: Two bundles of lulavs; inscription around ("Year four, quarter"). Mesh1 162. Mesh2 29. TJC 213. H-669. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,750. Ex Bromberg Sale, Part I, 5 XII 91, lot 76. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,150
Lot 3069		AE Medium Bronze (22mm) dated year 4 (AD 69/70). Etrog; inscription around ("For the redemption of Zion"). Reverse: Two bundles of lulavs; inscription around ("Year four, quarter"). Mesh1 162. Mesh2 29. TJC 213. H-669. Very Fine. Highlighted on this emergency coinage of year 4 are the ritual objects pertaining to the festival of Sukkot, a harvest-related holiday, beginning on the evening of the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,035
Lot 3070		AE Small Bronze (18mm) dated year 4 (AD 69/70). Temple vessel with rim decorated with nine pearls; inscription around ("For the redemption of Zion"). Reverse: Two etrogs with lulav between; inscription around ("Year four"). Mesh1 163. Mesh2 30. TJC 214. H-670. Somewhat tooled, otherwise Very Fine. Evidently the die engraver forgot one of the nine pearls on the rim (there isn't that much room on a die this size!), and after counting the eight, could only place the ninth on the left part of the omer cup itself. Even in the penultimate year of the war, great precision and pride existed within the group of artists whose sculptures in coinage we find still today so remarkable and moving. Estimated Value $150 - 200. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $161
Lot 3071		Lot of Five Bronzes. Two Prutahs of year 2 (Mesh1 153, H-661), two of year 3 (Mesh1 156, H-664), plus an AE 18 of year 4 (Mesh1 163, H-670). Lot of 5 coins. Condition averages About Very Fine. Estimated Value $275 - 425. View details	Realized $299
Lot 3072		AR Denar (3.20g), hybrid issue of years One and 2, minted AD 133/4. Inscription within wreath. Reverse: One-handled jug right with palm branch to right; inscription ("Eleazar the Priest"). Mesh1 167. H-685. Mild 5 [9 examples cited, this coin being #8, which was chosen to illustrate the dies]. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. Ex Leu 28, lot 287. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,185
Lot 3073		AE Medium Bronze (AE 23) dated year One (AD 132/3). Upright palm branch within laurel wreath. Reverse: Chelys-lyre with four strings. Mesh1 172 (these dies). H-680. Mild 24 [16 examples cited]. Very Fine. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $368
Lot 3074		AE Medium Bronze (AE 25) dated year One (AD 132/3). Small three-lobed vine leaf. Reverse: Palm tree with seven branches. Mesh1 170. Mesh2 plate 20, 5d. H-678v. Mild 37 [6 examples cited]. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $460
Lot 3075		AE Medium Bronze (AE 23) dated year One (AD 132/3). Three-lobed vine leaf. Reverse: Palm tree with seven branches. Mesh1 170. H-678. Mild 43 [large issue]. Nice Fine. Estimated Value $225 - 275. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold

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