Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 69

The May Pre-Long Beach Auction

Byzantine Empire

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 3649		Anastasius I, 491-518. Gold Solidus (4.5 g). Mint of Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing to right, holding spear and shield. Reverse: Angle standing left holding long staff surmounted by reversed staurogram; star below. Officinae I. Sear 5; D.O. 7; MIB 7. Fully lustrous. Mint State. Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,064
Lot 3650		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Solidus (4.51 g) minted at Ravenna. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing of Justinian I, holding globus cruciger and shield. Reverse: Angel standing facing, holding long staff and globus cruciger; in lower right field, star. D.O. 333; S. 312. Rare Light graffito "K" in right obverse field. Lustrous and Nearly Mint State. Spread fabric and a rounded border help identify this mint. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3651		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Solidus (4.37 g). Mint of Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing. Reverse: Angel standing facing, holds globus in left hand and staff terminating in staurogram in right. D.O. 9; S. 140. NGC graded Genuine. Our grade is Very Fine. Estimated Value $350 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $334
Lot 3652		Justinian I, 527-565. Gold Semissis (2.21 g) minted at Constantinople. Diademed, cuirassed and draped bust right of Justinian I. Reverse: Victory seated right inscribing shield; in left field, star. D.O. 17; S. 143. Flan somewhat wavy. Extremely Fine for issue. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $546
Lot 3653		Justin II, 565-578. Gold Solidus (4.35 g) minted at Constantinople. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing of Justin II. Reverse: Constantinopolis seated, head right, holding spear and globus cruciger. D.O. 4; S. 345. NGC graded XF; Strike 4/5; Surface 2/5; clipped. Our grade is Fine to VF, clipped. Estimated Value $175 - 225. Ex Superior's 29 V 91 sale, lot 2067. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $322
Lot 3654		Tiberius II Constantine, 578-582. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople, AD 579. Crowned facing bust of Tiberius II holding mappa and scepter. Reverse: Cross potent on four steps. D.O. 2; MIB 2; S. 420. Rare. Straight snip at 10 o'clock, perhaps done at the mint (this coin is of full weight). Lustrous, beautifully struck on a large flan. Superb, Nearly Mint State. Certainly one of the finest known of this rare type. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $4,370
Lot 3655		Tiberius II Constantine, 578-582. Gold Solidus (4.52 g) minted at Constantinople. Crowned and cuirassed bust of Tiberius II, holding globus cruciger and shield, now decorated with swirls and curves, imitative of the earlier "horseman spearing enemy" type. Reverse: Cross potent on four steps. D.O. 4; S. 422. Slender reverse die-break from cross to edge (not a scratch!). Perfectly centered with complete legends; well struck on both sides. Extremely Fine. This scarce solidus is a lovely example of early Byzantine art which highlights two dimensions with very little modeling. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,208
Lot 3656		Maurice Tiberius, 582-602. Gold Tremissis (1.51 g) minted at Ravenna. Diademed, cuirassed and draped bust right of Maurice Tiberius. Reverse: Victory advancing right with head left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; in lower right field, star. D.O. 287; S. 592. Rare. Beautifully struck; Superb Extremely Fine. If you want just one coin to represent this now Italian mint, this example is near perfection. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3657		Heraclius, 610-641. Gold Solidus (4.32 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (son of Heraclius) wearing crowns surmounted with crosses; above and between, cross. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 13e; S. 738. Well centered with full legends on both sides. Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $500 - 550. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $661
Lot 3658		Heraclius, 610-641. Gold Solidus (4.36 g) minted at Constantinople, c. 610-613. Helmeted, cuirassed and draped bust facing of Heraclius, holding cross. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 3; S. 731. Scarce. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3659		Heraclius, 610-641. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople, c. 629-632. Facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine (son of Heraclius). Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 26; S. 749. Reverse light graffito and weakness at legends. About Extremely Fine with excellent portraits. Estimated Value $600 - 700. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3660		Heraclius, 610-641. Gold Solidus (4.46 g) minted at Constantinople, c. 638-641. Standing figures of Heraclonas, Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, each holding globus cruciger. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps; monogram and letter in fields. D.O. 34; S. 759. Wonderfully distinct strike. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $800 - 900. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $748
Lot 3661		Constans II, AD 641-668. Gold Solidus, mint of Constantinople. Facing busts of Constans (on left) with long beard, and Constantine IV beardless. Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. Cf. Sear 959. ICG graded MS-63. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $661
Lot 3662		Constans II, 641-668. Gold Solidus (4.41 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing busts of Constans II and Constantine IV (son of Constans II). Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 25; S. 959. Well struck and lustrous. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $425 - 525. The Judy Cahn Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $414
Lot 3663		Constans II, 641-668. Gold Solidus (4.43 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing busts of Constans II and Constantine IV (son of Constans II). Reverse: Cross potent on three steps. D.O. 25; S. 959. Struck a bit weakly in places. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $375 - 450. The Judy Cahn Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $575
Lot 3664		Constans II, 641-668. Gold Solidus (4.43 g) minted at Constantinople, c. 661-668. Facing busts of Constans and Constantine IV. Reverse: Standing figures of Heraclius and Tiberius; between them, cross potent on three steps. D.O. 30; S. 964. Fully lustrous. Mint State. It is highly unusual that all four portrayals are fully struck and detailed. A gem, worthy of the finest collection! Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,070
Lot 3665		Constantine IV Pogonatus, 668-685. Gold Solidus (4.41 g). Facing military bust of Constantine IV. Reverse: Heraclius and Tiberius standing between long cross on steps. Some areas of weakness as struck. NGC graded XF; Strike: 3/5, Surface: 4/5 . Estimated Value $350 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $405
Lot 3666		Leo III, 717-741. Gold Tremissis (1.32 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing bust of Leo III holding globus cruciger and akakia. Reverse: Facing bust of Constantine V (son of Leo III) holding cross potent on base. Cf. D.O. 15-18; S. 1508. Rare, especially with such an even, strong strike. Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,093
Lot 3667		Constantine V, 741-775. Gold Solidus (4.44 g) minted at Constantinople. Crowned bust facing of Constantine V holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: Crowned bust facing of Leo III (father of Constantine V) holding cross potent and akakia. D.O. 1; S. 1550. Lustrous; struck on an attractive flan for the period. Nearly Mint State. A scarce coin, but rare in this condition. Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,875
Lot 3668		Leo IV, 775-780. Gold Solidus (4.40 g) minted at Constantinople. Leo IV and Constantine VI (young son of Leo IV) enthroned, facing; between their heads, cross. Reverse: Facing busts of Leo III (grandfather of Leo IV) and Constantine V (father of Leo IV); between them, cross and pellet. D.O. 2; S. 1584. Rare. Lustrous; on a large flan. Superb Extremely Fine. This rare, dynastic solidus was minted during the midst of the iconoclastic controversy. Should there be allowed portrayals of religious figures? Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,680
Lot 3669		Leo IV, 775-780. Gold Solidus (4.35 g) minted at Constantinople. Leo IV and Constantine VI (son of Leo IV) enthroned, facing; in upper central field, cross. Reverse: Busts facing of Leo III (grandfather of Leo IV) and Constantine V (father of Leo IV); in upper central field, cross. D.O. 2.1; S. 1584. Rare. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,600 - 1,800. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3670		Irene, 797-802. Gold Solidus (4.46 g) minted at Constantinople. Bust of Irene facing, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter. Reverse: Bust of Irene facing, wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter. D.O. 1; S. 1599. Very rare. Superb Extremely Fine. An unusually well-struck example of this very rare coin type, portraying the first female sole ruler to occupy the Byzantine throne. She played long-distance chess with Charlemagne, and had numerous problems, causing an untimely culmination to her reign. Estimated Value $12,500 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $14,375
Lot 3671		Theophilus, 829-842. Gold Semissis (3.53 g) minted at Syracuse. Facing bust of Theophilus holding cross on globe. Reverse: Facing bust of Constantine (or Michael II) holding cross on globe. Diminutive flan. Very Fine. Because of the small flans, quite often seen on these quasi-globular issues of Syracuse, inscriptions are lacking, making precise attribution very difficult, if not impossible. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $345
Lot 3672		Basil I, 867-886. Electrum Semissis (1.45 g) minted at Syracuse in Sicily, 868-879. Facing bust of Basil I holding globus cruciger. Reverse: Facing bust of Constantine holding globus cruciger. D.O. 14a, 15; S. 1714. Attractive broad flan for these Syracusan issues. Extremely Fine. This rather singularly artistic reverse rendering minted at Syracuse depicts Constantine, Basil I's son. Sadly, Constantine died in an accident before his elevation. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $414
Lot 3673		Constantine VII and Romanus I, 920-944. Gold Solidus (4.42 g) minted at Constantinople, 921-931. Christ enthroned facing, holding book of Gospels; right hand raised in benediction. Reverse: Facing busts of Romanus I and Christopher (son of Romanus I) holding patriarchal cross on globus between them. Very light graffiti ("H" in left field; line or hairline scratch on neck of Christ, but die-break through right numbus). Lustrous, Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,121
Lot 3674		Constantine VII and Romanus II, 945-959. Gold Solidus (4.37 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing bust of Christ, holding book of Gospels; right hand raised in benediction. Reverse: Facing busts of Constantine VII and Romanus II (son of Constantine VII) holding patriarchal cross between them. D.O. 15; S. 1751. Lustrous; Superb Extremely Fine. The long reign of Constantine VII (913-959) took many turns during the 10th century. The emperor himself was a prolific writer; much of his work remains to this day. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,121
Lot 3675		Basil II, 976-1025. Gold Histamenon Nomisma (4.32 g) minted at Constantinople. Facing bust of Christ, holding book of Gospels. Reverse: Facing busts of Basil II and Constantine VIII (brothers and co-emperors), holding patriarchal cross crosslet between them. D.O. 3; S. 1797. Excellent strike. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 3676		Two Gold-Content Byzantine Scyphates, Both Graded by NGC. Constantine X (VF; our grade, Fine/Abt. EF) and Isaac II (XF; our grade, Fine/Choice VF). Lot of 2 coins. Estimated Value $300 - 350. View details	Realized $690