Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, better known as Caracalla, was a promising son of emperor Septimius Severus. Born at Lugdunum in 188 AD while his father was governor of the province, his youth was spent as the groomed son and heir apparent of Septimius, and many honors were bestowed upon him at the expense of his brother Geta. After their father’s passing in February of 211, the brothers embarked upon a contentius joint rule that lasted less than a year and ended in the fratricidal murder of Geta.
Caracalla was now free to live out his fantasies as the reincarnation of Alexander the Great, and embarked upon his campaign to conquer neighboring empires, as Alexander had done centuries before. In 214 AD he commenced war against the Alemanni, a German confederation, and he began to wear the caracallus, a hooded cloak from which his nickname derives. After successes in this campaign, Caracalla conquered the Danubian Capri, and began preparation for his invasion of Persia, another goal in imitation of Alexander. At Troy, Caracalla sponsored military parades to honor the fallen heroes of the Trojan War and acted out portions of Homer’s Iliad – with himself playing the role of Achilles, the greatest of Greek mythological warriors. Visiting the tomb of Alexander in Alexandria, he sought cures for his illnesses and for reasons unknown, decided to massacre tens of thousands of unarmed citizens. Now completely unhinged, Caracalla headed east to commence his much anticipated Parthian campaign, but was killed en route to Mesopotamia by a disgruntled soldier who was probably also concerned for his life, his praetorian prefect and successor, Macrinus.
We are fortunate to have on offer today a high grade and rare example of Caracalla’s gold coinage, an aureus in AU condition, graded by NGC. Superbly centered and lustrous, it features a strong portrait and has the excellent rating of 5/5 for both Strike and Surface.
Silver Tetradrachm NGC Ch AU Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5 Fine Style
Silver Drachm NGC MS Strike 4/5, Surface 5/5
Considered one of the greatest military commanders in history, Alexander was born in 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia. He was the son of King Phillip II and Queen Olympias, who claimed she was impregnated by Zeus (actually, it was by Phillip). From childhood, Alexander displayed exceptional leadership qualities, and he was imbued by his tutor Aristotle with a thirst for knowledge in philosophy, literature and the arts. Alexander considered his lineage divine (like his mother did) and linked his bloodline to Achilles and Hercules.
After ascending to the throne following his father’s assassination in 336 BC, Alexander consolidated his empire of Greek city states and began his military campaign against Darius III and the Persian Empire. He decisively defeated Darius at the battle of Guagamela, and took over Babylon and Susa with little resistance. With the fall of Persia, Alexander had available vast amounts of silver and gold available from the depositories of Susa and Persepolis, and some of this output was utilized for the production of silver drachms and gold staters like the ones on offer here today.
Alexander was succeeded as king by by his half brother, who ruled as Phillip III.
The Alexander the Great type collection is on offer here for: $18,975
Though normally associated with hedonistic excess and debauchery, Nero’s first years were actually a relatively peaceful time in the empire. Nero began his rule at the tender age of 17 with much promise – his mother Agrippina Jr. was regent at first, until he began to assert his independence the following year. With the government largely in the hands of capable administrators like Seneca and Burrus, Rome enjoyed peace and prosperity for the first five years of Nero’s reign. Things began to take a turn south for his reign, however, with his involvement in the murder of his mother in 59 and the subsequent shedding of his key advisors Seneca and Burrus in 62 AD. He also divorced and executed his wife Claudia Octavia in that fateful year. So, at the age of 25, Nero had reconstructed his life, shedding moderating influences on his activities – he was now able to pursue his interests in acting, carousing, various persecutions, chariot racing and random sexual adventures – in short, he was becoming the Nero we all know and love.
Probably most shocking to the populace, however, was the Great Fire of 64 AD, where it was thought that Nero had started it to clear out large portions of prime Rome real estate to build his ostentatious palace. With much of Rome destroyed and his grand palace usurping the dwindling financial resources of the empire, conspiracies began to form against the emperor. His stage antics, poetry readings and singing and dancing had never been particularly well received by the populace, anyway, who not only viewed his talents as marginal, but also saw them as not dignified for an emperor.
Nero embarked on a “Grand Tour” of Greece in AD 67, where he participated in the Pythian, Nemean and Olympic Games – as Vagi notes, Nero was declared victor in the latter, even though he fell out of his chariot mid-way through the race!
With Imperial finances stretched to the limit with Nero’s excesses, the populace finally had enough and forced Nero to flee to his country villa on the outskirts of Rome. On June 9 of 68, surrounded by hostile soldiers, Nero uttered the famous dictum, “what a great artist we are losing”, and died in a murder/suicide situation. Not long afterwards, Rome descended into civil war.
Always conscious of his artistic portrayals on the coinage, Nero took special efforts to ensure favorable images and favorite musical themes, such as him playing the lyre. The austere portraits of his predecessors gave way to naturalistic poses and a realism previously unseen
An Extremely Fine aureus and an AU hemidrachm are on offer here today, providing splendid examples of his portraiture and reflecting the high artistry of his coinage in general.
Offered at $9,550 delivered
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you. Give us a call for price indications and to lock trades.
The most prominent city in Ancient Greece militarily and economically, Athens had at its disposal an almost inexhaustible supply of silver from the mines it controlled at Laurion. This mine would be instrumental as Athenian influence increased in the region. To facilitate this expansion, a large supply of coinage was necessary, both for international economy and as a means of declaring Athems’ dominance in the region. The famous “owl” silver coinage was introduced around 520 BC, featuring the helmeted head of Athena, and on the reverse, the standing figure of an owl, her sacred bird. Over time, the design of the owls became more streamlined, culminating in the naturalistic style of the coins on offer here.
Struck around the time period of the Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BC), these ancient trade coins formed the basis of the Greek economy in antiquity and circulated widely in the Mediterranean region and beyond. Athenian “owls” are a good candidate for being the most famous coins of antiquity, and provide a link to the history and style of the ancient world that is without parallel.
A superb specimen of the ancient Greek tetradrachm is on offer today -with an appealing lustrous silvery bloom and light golden highlights, it is certified Mint State* by NGC. Furthermore, is well struck and sports excellent surfaces, as the 10 out of 10 rating from NGC for Strike and Surface attests.
Direct inquires to Alan Christopher (800) 257-3253
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
The most prominent city in Ancient Greece militarily and economically, Athens had at its disposal an almost inexhaustible supply of silver from the mines it controlled at Laurion. This mine would be instrumental as Athenian influence increased in the region. To facilitate this expansion, a large supply of coinage was necessary, both for international economy and as a means of declaring Athems’ dominance in the region. The famous “owl” silver coinage was introduced around 520 BC, featuring the helmeted head of Athena, and on the reverse, the standing figure of an owl, her sacred bird. Over time, the design of the owls became more streamlined, culminating in the naturalistic style of the coins on offer here.
Struck around the time period of the Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BC), these ancient trade coins formed the basis of the Greek economy in antiquity and circulated widely in the Mediterranean region and beyond. Athenian “owls” are a good candidate for being the most famous coins of antiquity, and provide a link to the history and style of the ancient world that is without parallel.
A most famous ancient Greek silver coin, certified About Uncirculated and boldly struck, with an attractive light grey tone.
Offered at $1,595 delivered
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
Finer than the Example which recently sold for $215,000 below!
This coin is just $103,075 Delivered
A Love Story Never Grows Old With Time…
NGC AU, Strike 5/5, Surface 2/5
The following RAW XF-described Cleopatra sold for $215,000 in January 2019 at the New York Invitational!!
Marc Antony and Cleopatra. It is one of the greatest love affairs in human history. The first Romeo and Juliet. A tale made further made famous by William Shakespeare, made legendary in the 1963 movie Cleopatra starring Richard Burton as Antony and Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, and acted out in theater halls and performing arts venues across the Globe.
Marc Antony, Second-In-Command to the great Julius Caesar, was an integral figure in Rome’s transition from a republic to an empire. He was the Ben Franklin to Caesar’s Rome. Until love sealed his fate.
Cleopatra, once lover of Julius Caesar himself and Mother to one of his Sons, became the affectionate admirer of Marc Antony after Caesar’s assassination in 44 B.C. Antony’s affections for Cleopatra became too strong and as such he became more and more intertwined with the Egyptian Kingdom, ignoring the power of Octavian, who solidified power after Julius Caesar’s death and who saw Cleopatra’s hereditary right to rule as a threat. Octavian subsequently declared war on Cleopatra.
As Octavian entered Egypt, Antony and Cleopatra had no way out. Antony, thinking his lover was already dead, stabbed himself with a sword. Cleopatra was captured but managed to commit suicide by a poisonous snakebite.
What better prize is there as a collector than to acquire a tangible artifact of one of the greatest stories ever told? This is your chance.
Artist Depiction of the two lovers. Richard Burton portraying Marc Antony and Elizabeth Taylor portraying Cleopatra in the 1963 film about the Egyptian Queen.
Pop 1/0 of 13 Certified
$103,075 Delivered
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
Posted on February 26, 2019 by World Coin News Staff
Masterwork: Kimon’s rendering of the nymph Arethousa dominates this Sicilian silver tetradrachm of the Second Democracy c. 406-405 BCE. The quality of this piece caused the CNG cataloger to wax poetic: “The composition’s beautiful three-dimensional perspective is augmented by a fluid style that effectively conveys the natural motion of the nymph’s hair in her liquid environment. [That] environment is further emphasized by the placement of the dolphins, who weave themselves within her hair in a playful manner. The serenity of Arethousa’s countenance, with her full, pouting lips and other-worldly gaze from her almond-shaped eyes, conveys a sense of her place aloof from the realm of man.” In EF the coin romped away to take $270,000. (Images courtesy CNG)In late January, the Classical Numismatic Group announced that their annual Triton sale had realized $10,482,153 on pre-sale total estimates of $7,831,550.
The catalog featured 1,456 lots of Greek, Celtic, Oriental Greek, Central Asian, Roman Provincial, Roman Republican & Imperatorial, and Roman Imperial coinage.
Thrown in for good measure was a selection of Byzantine, Early Medieval, Islamic, World, and British coinage plus a number of choice large lots.
Four outstanding collections dominated the sale:
• The Gasvoda Collection consisted of exceptional Greek and Roman coins with an emphasis on Magna Graecia and Sicily. It realized $3,047,376 on a $1,850,700 estimate.
• Seleukid coinage from the MNL Collection took $282,270 on a $172,250 estimate.
• The Michel Prieur Collection of Syro-Phoenician silver coinage sold for $500,844 on a $216,550 estimate.
• Roman Republican coins from the Alan J. Harlan Collection fetched $435,810 on a $273,950 estimate.
Top-selling lot from the Gasvoda Collection was a Sicilian silver tetradrachm by Kimon (26mm, 17.44 g) from the Second Democracy c. 406-405 BCE. The head of the nymph Arethousa fills much of the obverse, her sea-swept hair radiant about her. Adjectives fail to adequately describe this superb artwork. It is a true masterwork in the original sense of that word.
On the reverse, a charioteer drives his quadriga at breakneck speed with Nike hovering above waiting to crown him with a laurel wreath.
Graded EF with underlying luster, this coin shot past its $150,000 estimate to hammer at $225,000 for a total of $270,000.
A second tetradrachm came from the MNL collection and was sourced from the Seleukid Empire of Demetrios I Soter c. 155/4-150 BCE (31mm, 16.68 g). The obverse shows the king’s effigy within a laurel wreath in high relief. The reverse has Tyche seated (SC-1611.3).
Tetradrachm of the Seleukid Empire struck for Demetrios I Soter c. 155/4-150 BCE, which realized $14,400 in EF. (Images courtesy CNG)
In EF, it realized $14,400 on an estimate of $3,000.
Tetradrachm struck at Hierapolis for the Caracalla c. 215-217 CE whose reverse is devoted to cult figures of Haddad. An extremely rare coin, it fetched $16,800 in gVF, or over 5 times estimate. (Images courtesy CNG)
Top lot from the Michel Prieur Collection was a third tetradrachm (25mm, 10.58 g) struck at Hierapolis for Caracalla c. 215-217 CE (Prieur 925). The emperor is shown laureate, draped, and cuirassed. On the reverse are cult figures of Haddad seated on bulls and Atargatis seated on lions. Between is a semeion surmounted by a golden pigeon. All are supported by an eagle.
This is an extremely rare coin. Prieur cites just four examples. In gVF and toned, it made a most comfortable $16,800 on a highly conservative $5,000 estimate.
Silver denarius of Roman moneyer T. Carisius struck in 46 CE with a design that echoes a 350-300 BCE coin produced in the city of Gergis, near the site of Troy. In superb EF, it realized $5,700. (Images courtesy CNG)
From A.J. Harlan’s Imperial Roman coins came an exceptional example of a silver denarius (17 mm, 4.05 g) struck by moneyer T. Carisius for Imperatorial Rome c. 46 BCE. On the obverse, the head of Sibyl Herophile is displayed with her hair decorated with jewels and enclosed in bands. On the reverse is a Sphinx.
As the cataloger notes, this coin’s design shows that Roman moneyers were familiar with the legends and coin types of obscure Greek cities. In this instance, the city is Gergis, sited near ancient Troy. It was said to be the birthplace of the Sibyl Herophile, a priestess with prophetic powers. Coins of the city struck c. 350-300 BCE show the head of the Sibyl and a seated sphinx, a symbol of prophecy. These themes are repeated here.
Given its superb EF condition, the coin realized $5,700, or well over three times estimate.
Full catalog details and prices realized can be found at the CNG website: www.cngcoins.com. On the list, the number of each lot is hot-linked to the catalog description.
Prices and totals cited here included a buyer’s premium of 20%. However, those bidding online and who used The Saleroom.com would have paid 22.5%.
CNG is currently accepting consignments for its next mail bid auction, CNG 111, scheduled for May 8.
This article was originally printed in World Coin News.
