Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 59

Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction

Eastern Empires

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 2231		Nabataean Kingdom. Rabbel II, 70-106 CE. AR Drachm (3.74 g) dated year 1 (70/1 CE). Laureate bust right of Rabbel II. Reverse: Laureate bust right of Shuqailat. Meshorer (Qedem 3) 142. Rare. Double-struck, causing portions of the inscriptions to be difficult to decipher. Remarkably fine portraits; Choice Very Fine. Shuqailat was the mother of Rabbel II and used the title "Queen [of the Nabataeans]" on coinage. The mint place is likely Petra for this fascinating and historically important kingdom. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 2232		Persia. Achaemenid Empire, c. 420-375 BC. Gold Daric (8.30 g). Persian king right in kneeling-running position, holding dagger and bow; quiver at shoulder. Reverse: Incuse punch. Cf. Carradice (BAR 343) 42; cf. BMC 58. Lustrous; Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,910
Lot 2233		A Gold Daric of the Persian Kings of Lydia. Condition F-VF, plus a silver cistophorus of Claudius (long obverse scratch, About VF). Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $550 - 650. View details	Realized $2,645
Lot 2234		Persia. Achaemenid Empire, c. 450-338 BC. Four silver sigloi of varying types, two holding scepters and two with daggers. While no numismatist has completely straightened out the dating and kings issuing these fascinating types, the best and most complete reference is by Ian Carradice, "The Regal Coinage of the Persian Empire," appearing in B.A.R. 343. Condition averages VF. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $325 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $719
Lot 2235		Persia. Achaemenid Empire. Four silver sigloi. Condition averages VF, with some porosity, a countermark and an irregular flan noted. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $325 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,380
Lot 2236		Parthian Kingdom. Mithradates II, c. 123-91 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.68 g), Seleucia on the Tigris mint, struck c. 119-109 BC. Diademed bust left of Mithradates II. Reverse: Archer seated right on omphalos; behind, monogram; upright palm to right of legend. Sellwood 24.5; Shore 68; Nicely centered and well struck up on spacious flan. NGC graded About Uncirculated. The Parthians were the arch (or should we say archer?) enemies of Rome for several centuries. While the silver drachms are most often seen, tetradrachms and bronzes were also issued; there are no gold coins known of this kingdom, encompassing modern Iran and surrounding territories. Many different city-mints were employed, along with traveling military and court mints. Early silver tetradrachms were all very rare and generally in circulated condition until a sizable hoard was unearthed about 15 years ago. Today, this group has been dispersed throughout the world, and occurrences in the modern marketplace are seldom for these glorious, quasi-medallion, Hellenistic portrait coins. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000. Ex Millennia Sale, lot 60. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,990
Lot 2237		Parthian Kingdom. Mithradates II, c. 123-88 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.72 g) minted at Seleucia on the Tigris. Diademed bust left of Mithradates II. Reverse: Archer seated right on omphalos; in exergue, monogram. Sellwood 24 var. (this monogram not listed). Slightly double struck. Minted in high relief and nicely centered on a large flan. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 2238		Parthian Kingdom. Pacorus II, c. AD 78-105. AR Drachm (3.72 g) minted at Ecbatana. Bust left of Pacorus II wearing tiara with "hooks" on crest. Reverse: Archer seated right. Sellwood 77/8. Very scarce. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $175 - 225. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $138
Lot 2239		Sasanian Kingdom. Artashir I, AD 224-242. AR Drachm (3.78 g) of Parthian style. Bust right of Artashir I wearing ornamented tiara. Reverse: Fire altar. Sellwood 4; Göbl 6. Rare. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $350 - 450. Ex Triton I (2 XII 97), lot 601. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $426
Lot 2240		Sasanian Kingdom. Artashir I, AD 224-242. AR Drachm (4.24 g). Crowned bust right of Artashir I. Reverse: Fire altar. Sellwood 10; Göbl 9. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $426
Lot 2241		Sasanian Kingdom. Varhran II, AD 274-293. AR Drachm (4.13 g). Busts right of King and Queen facing the Prince. Reverse: Fire altar with flames; Varhran II and Mithra on either side. Sellwood 23; Göbl plate 4, 64. A bit porous. Extremely Fine on a fully round, large flan. One of the most attractive types struck by the successors of the Parthians. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $834
Lot 2242		Sasania. Two silver Sasanian drachms of Shapur I (dark toned) and Hormazd I, a silver drachm of Mithradates II of Parthia, plus an AE 20 of Thessalonika. Average grade is About EF. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $414
Lot 2243		Sasania. Two Silver Coins of different rulers. A hemidrachm of Shapur I and a drachm of Varhran II; condition being VF-EF. Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $604
Lot 2244		Baktria. Eukratides I, c. 171-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.94 g). Draped and jugate busts right of Heliokles, bare headed, and Laodike, diademed; monogram to left. Reverse: Draped and cuirassed bust right of Eukratides, wearing helmet adorned with bull's horn and ear. Bopearachchi Série 15, pl. 20, 70; Mitchiner 1725-26. Rare. Extremely Fine with excellent portraits. On this "pedigree" issue, the king is portrayed, along with conjoined busts of his parents. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,338
Lot 2245		Baktria. Three different silver drachms of Baktria and vicinity, plus one small fraction of Cilicia. All are in EF condition. Lot of 4 coins. Estimated Value $375 - 425. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $633
Lot 2246		Baktria. Two silver drachms of Menander, along with a tetradrachm of Roman Macedonia. Grades Choice VF or better. Lot of 3 coins. Estimated Value $275 - 325. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $437