Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 96

February 12-15 2017 Pre-Long Beach Auction

Roman Republic Coinage

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1969		L. Furius Cn.f. Brocchus. Silver Denarius (3.81 g), 64 BC. Rome. III VIR across field, BROCCHI below, draped bust of Ceres right, wreathed with grain ears, between wheat ear and barley corn. Reverse: L FVRI / CN F in two lines above, curule chair between fasces. Crawford 414/1; Sydenham 902; Furia 23. Delicate golden toning. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $300 - 400 The obverse possibly relates to a family history where an ancestor served as aedile of the grain supply, the cura annonae, or it may just reflect the moneyer's populist political philosophy. At the time this coin was struck, Catiline's conspiracy was secretly developing, only to be exposed and crushed the following year during Cicero's consulship. Although grain shortage was not one of the social causes of the Catiline conspiracy as outlined by Cicero - remember that Pompey had cleared the Mediterranean of the pirate menace in the early 60s BC and thus the grain supply had been secured - after the revelation of the plot, Cato proposed a grain measure extending the dole to include Rome's poor. Obviously, then, even though supply was plentiful, it was a source of discontent for the many urban plebs who were not benefitting from free distribution, and perhaps it was this mood that Brocchus was attempting to exploit by his choice of types on this coin. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $235
Lot 1970		M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus. Silver Denarius (3.75 g), 57 BC. Rome. CESTIANVS behind, S C before, winged bust of Vacuna right, wearing crested helmet, bow and quiver at shoulder; below chin, cornucopiae. Reverse: [M PL]AE-TORIVS M F AED CVR, eagle standing right on thunderbolt, head left. Crawford 409/1; Sydenham 809; Plaetoria 4. Lightly toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $282
Lot 1971		Q. Pomponius Musa. Silver Denarius (4.00 g), 56 BC. Rome. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, scepter. Reverse: Q PO-MPON[I] MVSA, Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, standing facing, head right, wearing sword, holding club and mask. Crawford 410/4; Sydenham 816; Pomponia 14. Gorgeous iridescent tone. Two fine scratches in obverse field. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $700 - 800 From The Herbert & Aphrodite Rubin Collection; Ex Birkler & Waddell II (11 December 1980), 264. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $823
Lot 1972		Q. Pomponius Musa. Silver Denarius (3.48 g), 56 BC. Rome. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, two crossed tibiae. Reverse: Q POMPON[I] MVSA, Euterpe standing right, resting elbow on column before her, and holding two tibiae. Crawford 410/5; Sydenham 815; Pomponia 13. Old graffiti in right obverse field. Toned. Very Fine. Estimate Value $300 - 350 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $317
Lot 1973		Q. Pomponius Musa. Silver Denarius (3.63 g), 56 BC. Rome. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, wreath tied with fillet. Reverse: Q POMPONI MVSA, Polyhymnia standing facing slightly right, wearing wreath. Crawford 410/10a; Sydenham 817; Pomponia 15. Find patina. About Very Fine. Estimate Value $200 - 250 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $188
Lot 1974		C. Memmius. Silver Denarius (3.78 g), 56 BC. Rome. C MEMMI C F, head of Ceres right, wreathed with grain ears. Reverse: C MEMM[IVS] IMPERATOR, bound captive kneeling right beneath trophy. Crawford 427/1; Sydenham 920; Memmia 10. An old scrape behind the head, otherwise attractively toned. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $350 - 400 The moneyer of this coin, Gaius Memmius, was the nephew of Pompey the Great, the son of Pompey's sister, Pompeia Strabonia, and C. Memmius. The reverse commemorates a military victory of an ancestor with the same name who had been acclaimed imperator by his troops, but there is debate over which C. Memmius this was. It is possible that it refers to the moneyer's grandfather, who was tribune in 111 BC and then proconsul of Macedonia, or perhaps more likely his father, who according to Plutarch was Pompey's most capable general in the fight against Sertorius in Spain. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $382
Lot 1975		Q. Cassius Longinus. Silver Denarius (3.50 g), 55 BC. Rome. Q CASSIVS before, LIBERT behind, diademed head of Libertas right. Reverse: Domed tetrastyle shrine of Venus, curule chair within; in left field, urn; in right field, voting tablet inscribed A C. Crawford 428/2; Sydenham 918; Cassia 8. Faint banker's mark on cheek. Attractively toned. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $350 - 400 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $223
Lot 1976		Cn. Plancius. Silver Denarius (3.80 g), 55 BC. Rome. CN PLANCIVS before, AED CVR S C behind, head of Diana Planciana(?) right, wearing petasus. Reverse: Cretan goat standing right; behind, quiver and bow. Crawford 432/1; Sydenham 933; Plancia 1. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $300 - 400 The Aurora Family Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $517
Lot 1977		Cn. Plancius. Silver Denarius (4.05 g), 55 BC. Rome. CN [PLANCIVS] before, AED CVR S C behind, head of Diana Planciana(?) right, wearing petasus. Reverse: Cretan goat standing right; behind, quiver and bow. Crawford 432/1; Sydenham 933; Plancia 1. Obverse struck off center, reverse well centered. Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $153
Lot 1978		Cn. Plancius. Silver Denarius (3.96 g), 55 BC. Rome. CN PLANCIVS before, AED CVR S C behind, head of Diana Planciana(?) right, wearing petasus. Reverse: Cretan goat standing right; behind, quiver and bow. Crawford 432/1; Sydenham 933; Plancia 1. Attractive light toning. Small banker's mark on obverse. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $188
Lot 1979		Q. Pompeius Rufus. Silver Denarius (3.90 g), 54 BC. Rome. Q POMPEI [Q F]/RVFVS in two lines above, COS inscribed on base, curule chair set on base between arrow and branch. Reverse: [SV]LLA C[OS] above, Q POMPEI RVF inscribed on base, curule chair set on base between lituus and wreath. Crawford 434/2; Sydenham 909; Pompeia 5. Toned. Very Fine. Estimate Value $200 - 250 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $118
Lot 1980		P. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus. Silver Denarius (3.92 g), 50 BC. Rome. Bust of Hercules right, seen from behind, wearing lion's skin, club over far shoulder; in left field, shield above pellet and Δ. Reverse: LE(NT) (MAR) F in exergue, Roma, on left, standing facing, holding spear, being crowned by Genius, on right, standing left; between, pellet above Δ; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 329/1a; Sydenham 604; Cornelia 25. Lightly toned. Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $188
Lot 1981		C. Vibius C.f. C.n. Pansa Caetronianus. Silver Denarius (4.07 g), 48 BC. Rome. PANSA below, mask of Pan right. Reverse: C VIBIVS C F C N IOVIS AXVR, Jupiter Axurus (or Anxurus) seated left, head facing, holding patera and scepter. Crawford 449/1a; HCRI 20; Sydenham 947; Vibia 18. Delicate iridescent toning. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $700 - 800 From The Herbert & Aphrodite Rubin Collection; Purchased privately from Ariadne Galleries in the 1970s-1980s. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $823
Lot 1982		C. Vibius C.f. C.n. Pansa Caetronianus. Silver Denarius (4.07 g), 48 BC. Rome. PANSA below, mask of Pan right. Reverse: [C] VIBIVS C F C N IOVIS AXVR, Jupiter Axurus (or Anxurus) seated left, head facing, holding patera and scepter. Crawford 449/1a; HCRI 20; Sydenham 947; Vibia 18. Nicely toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $235
Lot 1983		Mn. Acilius Glabrio, Silver Denarius (4.08 g), 49 BC. Laureate head of Salus right, SALVTIS behind. Reverse: MN ACILIVS III VIR VALETV, Valetudo standing lefet holding snake and resting on column. Craw. 442/1; Sear 412; RSC Acilia 8, 8a. Toned. NGC graded AU; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimate Value $200 - 250 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $141
Lot 1984		Q. Sicinius. Silver Denarius (3.74 g), 49 BC. Rome. [FORT] P R, diademed head of Fortuna Populi Romani right. Reverse: III VIR across field, Q SICINIVS, crossed palm branch and caduceus; above, wreath. Crawford 440/1; HCRI 410; Sydenham 938; Sicinia 5. Nicely toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 Little is known of the moneyer Q. Sicinius, and his family, while noble, was not a driving force in Roman politics. The types of the coin show that he sided with Pompey after Caesar crossed the Rubicon. The obverse depicts the head of the Fortune of the Roman People, and the symbols on the reverse all reference Pompey's accomplishments: the palm for his many victories, the wreath that was awarded him by the Senate specifically for his defeat of Mithradates VI in 63 BC, and the caduceus for his defeat of the Cilician pirates. This was the last normal issue of denarii before Caesar's occupation of Rome, at which time Sicinius fled east along with the rest of the Pompeians. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $159
Lot 1985		Albinus Bruti f. Silver Denarius (4.09 g), 48 BC. Rome. PIETAS behind, bare head of Pietas right. Reverse: ALBINVS BRVTI F, clasped hands holding winged caduceus. Crawford 450/2; HCRI 26; Sydenham 942; Postumia 10. Lustrous. Nearly Mint State. Estimate Value $500 - 600 The Aurora Family Collection, purchased in 1969. The moneyer, Decimus Junius Brutus, is better known to us than are most moneyers as he saw extensive service under Caesar during the Gallic Wars and was later made governor of Transalpine Gaul. Additionally, he was made Caesar's heir should Octavius reject the inheritance. Despite the favor Caesar showed him, he was amongst the conspirators in his assassination (he should not be confused with M. Junius Brutus, however, who was one of the principals of the conspiracy). The types chosen for this coin advertise Caesar's leniency in dealing with those Romans who had opposed him, Pietas personifying devotion and love of country, and the clasped hands an obvious symbol of reconciliation. The winged caduceus is most associated as the attribute of the personification of Felicitas, and here represents the beneficial outcome of Caesar's clemency. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $646
Lot 1986		L. Hostilius Saserna. Silver Denarius (3.98 g), 48 BC. Rome. Diademed female head (Pietas or Clementia?) right, wreathed with oak. Reverse: L HOSTILIVS [S]ASERNA, Victory running right, holding winged caduceus and trophy. Crawford 448/1a; CRI 17; Sydenham 951; Hostilia 5. Lustrous. Nearly Mint State. Estimate Value $400 - 500 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $588
Lot 1987		Albinus Bruti f. Silver Denarius (3.81 g), 48 BC. Rome. Helmeted head of Mars right. Reverse: ALBINVS BRVTI F, two crossed Gallic trumpets; between, oval shield above, round shield below. Crawford 450/1a; HCRI 25; Sydenham 941; Postumia 11. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $300 - 400 The Aurora Family Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $470
Lot 1988		Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and Eppius. Silver Denarius (3.83 g), 47-46 BC. Military mint traveling with Scipio in Africa. Q METEL[L] SCIPIO IMP, head of Africa right, wearing elephant' skin headdress; in right field, grain stalk; below, plow. Reverse: EPPIVS LEG F C, Hercules standing facing, resting hand on hip and leaning on club draped with lion's skin and set on rock. Crawford 461/1; HCRI 44; Sydenham 1051; Caecilia 50. Delicately toned. Nearly Mint State. Estimate Value $1,000 - 1,500 From The Herbert & Aphrodite Rubin Collection; Purchased from an uncertain NFA auction in the 1970s-1980s, lot 287. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,939
Lot 1989		Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and Eppius. Silver Denarius (3.80 g), 47-46 BC. Military mint traveling with Scipio in Africa. Q METELL SCIPIO IMP, head of Africa right, wearing elephant' skin headdress; in right field, grain stalk; below, plow. Reverse: EPPIVS LEG F C, Hercules standing facing, resting hand on hip and leaning on club draped with lion's skin and set on rock. Crawford 461/1; HCRI 44; Sydenham 1051; Caecilia 50. Perfectly centered and well struck. Lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $1,000 - 1,500 From The Herbert & Aphrodite Rubin Collection; Ex CNG XXII (2 September 1992), 304 (illus. on back cover). The obverse type depicting Africa wearing an elephant headdress is remarkable in that it ultimately derives from Ptolemaic Egyptian representations of Alexander the Great as conqueror of Asia used on coins struck at Alexandria. Under the Roman Empire it was transmitted back to Alexandria where a female figure wearing the elephant headdress became the standard personification of the city. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $2,468
Lot 1990		T. Carisius. Silver Denarius (3.69 g), 46 BC. Rome. Head of Sibyl Herophile right, hair bound. Reverse: T CAR[IS]IVS above and to right, III VIR in exergue, Sphinx seated right. Crawford 464/1; CRI 69; Sydenham 983b; Carisia 11a. Toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $259
Lot 1991		Mn. Cordius Rufus. Silver Denarius (3.92 g), 46 BC. Rome. RVFVS S C, diademed head of Venus right. Reverse: MN CORDIVS below, Cupid riding dolphin right. Crawford 463/3; HCRI 65; Sydenham 977; Cordia 3. Nicely toned. An area of weakness. Very Fine. Estimate Value $150 - 200 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $106
Lot 1992		L. Valerius Acisculus. Silver Denarius (3.65 g), 45 BC. Rome. ACISCVLVS behind, diademed head of Apollo Soranus right surmounted by star; behind, pick-axe. Reverse: L VALERIVS in exergue, Europa seated on bull walking right, holding veil which billows out above her. Crawford 474/1a; HCRI 90; Sydenham 998; Valeria 17. Toned. Very Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 It has traditionally been believed that the reverse shows the heroine Valeria Luperca riding a heifer. However, the animal is clearly a bull, which means that the seated female can only be Europa. The myth of Europa is that she was a Phoenician princess whose beauty attracted the attention of the god Zeus. Desiring her, he turned himself into a magnificent white bull and intermingled with her father's herd. When she saw him, she approached him and stroked his side, then leaped onto his back. Zeus immediately ran out to sea and swam to Crete, where Europa became the island's first queen. Subsequently, Zeus arranged the stars known as the constellation Taurus in the shape of the white bull which he had assumed during this episode. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 1993		Petillius Capitolinus. Silver Denarius (3.75 g), 41 BC. Rome. PETILLIVS [CAPITOLI]NVS, eagle, with wings displayed standing facing on thunderbolt, head right. Reverse: Hexastyle temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. Crawford 487/2a; HCRI 174; Sydenham 1150; Petillia 2. A trifle off center on the obverse. Toned. Extremely Fine. Estimate Value $250 - 300 View details and enlarged photos	Realized $235

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