Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 53

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Roman Imperatorial Coinage

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1855		Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. AR Denarius struck in 46 BC at the Mint moving with Caesar in North Africa (Utica?). Head right of Ceres. Reverse: Simpulum, sprinkler, jug and lituus (emblems of the augurate and pontificate); on right, "D". Cr. 467/1a; Sear 57; BMC Africa 21. Well centered on a large flan. Very Fine. Minted for the African campaign, waged against Scipio and the supporters of Pompey, that culminated in the battle of Thapsus in 46 BC. Estimated Value $400 - 500. Ex NAC (Switzerland), May, 2001. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $384
Lot 1856		Julius Caesar, died 44 BC. AR Denarius, Rome mint. Struck in late February 44 BC before Caesar's assassination; P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Wreathed head right of Caesar, star behind. Reverse: Venus standing left, holding Victory and scepter with star at bottom. Crawford 480/5b; Syd. 1071; Alföldi (Caesar in 44 v. Chr.) Vol. 2, plate L, 156 (these dies). An exceptional portrait denarius of Caesar. Lustrous, Nearly Mint State. The wreath which Caesar wears on this important lifetime portrait issue is most probably the golden wreath worn at the Lupercalia, a fertility festival celebrated on 15 February. It was this portrayal of Caesar as a god-king which provoked intense antipathy toward him and led to his assassination. This depiction of a living person on coinage, along with the inscription of "Imperator", was viewed similarly to those used by Greek kingdoms, eventually transforming Rome from a republic to an empire ruled by emperors, dynasts and usurpers. Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,463
Lot 1857		Julius Caesar, died 44 BC. AR Denarius (3.51 g), Rome Mint. Wreathed head of Caesar r., CAESAR DICT PERPETVO around. Reverse: Venus standing l., scepter with star below, P. SEPVLLIVS MACER. Craw. 480/11. BMC 4168. Sear 107 bottom left. Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,553
Lot 1858		Sextus Pompey, d. 35 BC. Gold Aureus (8.39g), minted in Sicily, c. 42 BC. Bare head right of Sextus Pompey within oak wreath. Reverse: Confronted bare heads of Pompey the Great and Gnaeus Pompey, lituus and tripod in fields. Cr. 511/1; Syd. 1346; Calicó 71; Kent-Hirmer 102 (same obverse die). A little double-struck in left field on obverse; excellent portraits which are remarkably detailed. An extremely rare and historically important issue. NGC graded Uncirculated. Our grade is Nearly Mint State. Sextus Pompey was the youngest son of Pompey the Great; the older brother of Sextus, named Gnaeus, is portrayed on the reverse of this coin, at right. Papa (Pompey the Great, so named for his many victories, first at his victorious African campaign of 81 BC) is depicted on the left of the reverse. There are not too many Roman coins which picture three individuals, but here we're trying to create a dynasty. While Pompey the Great was a partner in the first triumvirate with Crassus and Julius Caesar, he later fought against Caesar in the Civil War and was killed in Egypt by Ptolemy XIII. After numerous battles, Sextus was executed, without benefit of trial, at Miletus. Earlier, the elder brother Gnaeus was also executed. There were comparatively few gold aureus emissions minted during the Republican and Imperatorial periods, with this being one of the most desired. Estimated Value $50,000 - 75,000. Ex Millennia Sale, lot 73; illustrated in Money of the World,* coin 32.* View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1859		Marc Antony, died 30 BC. AR Denarius, struck 33 BC at the mint moving with Antony. Bare head right of Marc Antony; in hair behind ear, artist's initial "P". Reverse: Legend in two lines. Cr. 542/2; Syd. 1209. A wonderful portrait; signed by artist. Nicely toned. Choice Very Fine. Crawford 542/2 is the sole instance for Roman Republican or Imperatorial coins to display the artist's signature or initial. The small filed area on the edge is ancient and was probably done at the mint for spur removal. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $834
Lot 1860		Mark Antony, d. 30 BC. AR Denarius, struck in Athens, summer 32 BC. Bare head right of Marc Antony (artist's signature "P" well concealed in hair behind the ear). Reverse: Inscription in two lines across field. S-1478; RSC 2; Cr. 542/2. Uniform dark greyish tone over rough surfaces. Very Fine. This type is the only recognized instance of an engraver's signature appearing on a coin of the Roman Republic. Estimated Value $400 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $345