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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Quality| ▸ |High Grade||View Options:   | | | When first introduced to ancient coins, most people are shocked to learn that some coins remain in mint state and even more surprised to learn that they are not all in musuems. Ancient people did not have stocks, bonds mutual funds, or bank accounts. The primary implement for holding wealth was coins, often buried, and often buried in uncirculated or mint state condition. If an owner died without recovering their coins or telling an heir where to find them, they were lost. Millions of ancient coins have been recovered, and thousands have been found in superb condition. |
Mazaios was the Persian satrap of Cilicia beginning about 361 BC and in about 345 B.C. he was also made satrap of Transeuphratesia (which included Syria and Judaea). In 331 BC, Mazaios was defeated by Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, after which he fled to Babylon. Later that year Mazaios surrendered Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire, to Alexander. For surrendering without a fight, Alexander appointed Mazaios governor of Babylon. He died in 328 B.C.SH114936. Silver stater, SNG Levante 103; SNG BnF 332; Newell 1920, series V, dd; Traité II p. 453, 700, pl. cxii, 19; Casabonne 2D, EF, sharp details, weight 10.740 g, maximum diameter 23.6 mm, die axis 90o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 361/360 - 334 B.C.; obverse BLTRZ (Baaltarz) in Aramaic (read upward) behind, Baal of Tarsos enthroned left, head and torso turned facing, wreath on head, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, bunch of grapes, grain ear, and eagle in right hand, lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand,
(Aramaic resh) lower left, 
(Aramaic mem) below throne; reverse lion left, head turned facing, atop bull fallen left, attacking with teeth and claws, 
(Aramaic MZDI = Mazaios, read right to left) above, nothing below bull; ex Lugdunum Numismatik (Solothun, Switzerland) auction 23 (12 Dec 2023), lot 53; ex H.D. Rauch (Vienna, Austria) auction 23 (20 Jan 1986), lot 42; 
Nerva, 18 September 96 - 25 January 98 A.D.
In Roman mythology, Aequitas was the minor goddess of fair trade and honest merchants. Aequitas was also the personification of the virtues equity and fairness of the emperor (Aequitas Augusti). The scales, a natural emblem of equity, express righteousness. The cornucopia signifies the prosperity which results from Aequitas and Aequitas Augusti.SL113464. Silver denarius, RIC II 13, RSC II 6, BnF III 13, BMCRE III 24, Hunter I 9, SRCV II -, NGC Ch AU, strike 4/5, surface 5/5 (2400906-010), weight 3.32 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 97 A.D.; obverse IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head right; reverse AEQVITAS AVGVST (fairness of the emperor), Aequitas standing half left, head left, wearing stephane, scales in right hand, cornucopia in left hand; from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 20 Dec 2010, $2140); NGC| Lookup;
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.
This coin was dedicated to Jupiter, the defender, probably to ask for protection the emperor in his war against the Persians. As Jupiter was the king of the gods, he took more interest in kings and emperors than the common man.SL114187. Silver denarius, RIC IV 238, RSC III 83, BMCRE VI 824, Hunter III 71, SRCV II 7871, NGC CH MS*, strike 5/5, surface 5/5 (2406773-001), weight 2.74 g, maximum diameter 21 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 231 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, with a short neatly trimmed beard, seen from the front; reverse IOVI PROPVGNATORI (Jupiter the Defender), Jupiter standing slightly left in fighting attitude, head right, nude but for cloak flying behind, hurling thunderbolt with right, eagle in extended left hand; from the Craig Chambers Collection, NGC| Lookup;
Lucius Verus, 7 March 161 - February 169 A.D.
In 162, Lucius Verus began war with the Parthians after Vologases IV invaded Syria and Armenia. The Romans would be victorious but the returning army would bring back a pandemic known as the Antonine Plague. The plague would significantly depopulate the entire Roman Empire.SL113468. Silver denarius, RIC III p. 253, 482; RSC II 155; BMCRE IV p. 412, 202; Hunter II p. 368, 7; cf. SRCV II 5354 (TR P III), NGC Ch AU, strike 5/5, surface 4/5 (3989805-005), weight 2.88 g, maximum diameter 17 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, Dec 161 - Dec 162 A.D.; obverse IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG, bare head right; reverse PROV DEOR TR P II COS II, Providentia standing facing, head left, globe in right hand, cornucopia in left hand; from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 21 Mar 2016, $995); NGC| Lookup;
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos, 80 - 58 and 55 - 51 B.C.
Ptolemy XII was a weak and unpopular ruler. He was awarded the belittling title Auletes - the flute player. Deposed by his own subjects in 58 B.C., he regained his throne with Roman assistance. His daughter, the famous Cleopatra VII, was the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt.SL113488. Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 1864 (Cleopatra VII); BMC Ptolemies p. 113, 32 (Ptolemaeus XI), SNG Cop 388, Noeske 344, Cohen DCA 69, NGC Ch VF, strike 4/5, surface 4/5 (3598288-015, notes perhaps Ptolemy X issue, year 17, 65/4 BC), weight 12.08 g, maximum diameter 23 mm, die axis 0o, Paphos or Alexandria mint, 65 - 64 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, LIZ (year 17, L appears as vertical line, Z appears as H on it side) left, ΠA right; from a Virginia Collector; NGC| Lookup;
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D.
In 107 A.D., Trajan received an ambassador from India. In 108 A.D., "doctor's offices" opened in Rome replacing "house calls.RS113935. Silver denarius, Woytek 270b, BnF IV 277, RIC II 128, RSC II 74, BMCRE III 328, Hunter II 104, Strack I 128, SRCV II 3129, EF, centered on a tight flan, attractive portrait, attractive toning, weight 3.505 g, maximum diameter 17.4 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 107 - 108 A.D.; obverse IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder; reverse COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Victory standing slightly left, naked to hips, raising wreath in right hand, palm frond in left hand; from the Chris Noah Collection (purchased spring 2006);
Seleukid Kingdom, Philip I Philadelphos, c. 94 - 83 or 75 B.C.
Philip I Philadelphus was the fourth son of Antiochus VIII Grypus. He took the diadem in 94 B.C. together with his twin brother Antiochus XI Epiphanes, after the eldest son Seleucus VI Epiphanes was killed by their cousin Antiochus X Eusebes. The next year Antiochus X killed Antiochus XI. Antiochus X was probably killed in 88 B.C. Philip's younger brother Demetrius III turned on Philip I and took the capital, but the Philip I prevailed and took Antioch. Their youngest brother Antiochus XII took Damascus. Philip I tried to take Damascus, after which he disappears from the historical record, which does not tell us how or when he died. His death is traditionally dated 83 B.C. but Numismatic evidence and clues in ancient literature indicate that Philip I might have died in 75 B.C. His coins remained in circulation when the Romans conquered Syria in 64 B.C. Roman authorities in Syria continued to issue coins modeled on Philip I's coins, including his portrait, until 13 B.C.GY113434. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2463(2)i, SNG Spaer 2803, Newell SMA 441, HGC 9 1319, BMC Seleucid -, gVF, toned, light encrustations, obv. off center, weight 15.904 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 88/7 - 83/75 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Philip I Philadelphos right, bulging eye, pouting lips, pronounced aquiline nose, fillet border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, Zeus seated left on high-backed throne, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, Nike presenting wreath in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left, .I.(Φ)/A outer left, N inner left,
(frozen control monogram) below throne, all within laurel wreath; ex Leu Numismatik auction 26 (13 July 2023), lot 6961 (part of); Philip II, July or August 247 - Late 249 A.D.
When Augustus ruled Rome, he was not called emperor or king, he was the Princeps, the "first of men." In the empire, the designated successors to the emperor were named caesar and also given the title Princeps Juventutis, the "first of youths." This is the origin of the English word prince, meaning the son of a monarch.SL114189. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 218d, RSC IV 48, Hunter V 8, SRCV III 9240, NGC MS, strike 5/5, surface 3/5, grainy (2406772-001), weight 4.02 g, maximum diameter 21 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, as caesar, 244 - 246 A.D.; obverse M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse PRINCIPI IVVENT (to the Prince of Youth), Philip II standing slightly left, head left, wearing military dress, globe in extended right hand, inverted spear in left hand; from the Craig Chambers Collection, NGC| Lookup;
Trajan Decius, September 249 - June or July 251 A.D.
Adventus Augustus inscriptions commemorate the emperor's arrival at Rome, either at the commencement of his reign or on his return from a distance.SL114190. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 11b, RSC IV 4, Hunter III 6, SRCV III 9366, NGC MS, strike 3/5, surface 4/5 (2406774-001), weight 4.13 g, maximum diameter 22 mm, die axis 45o, Rome mint, 249 - 251 A.D.; obverse IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse ADVENTVS AVG (arrival of the Emperor), Trajan Decius on horseback left, raising right hand in salute, scepter in left hand,; from the Craig Chambers Collection, NGC| Lookup;
Trebonianus Gallus, June or July 251 - July or August 253 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
The Persians occupied part of Syria in 251 A.D. and took and burned Antioch in 256 A.D. and again in 260 A.D.RY113509. Billon tetradrachm, RPC Online IX 1792; McAlee 1172(b); Prieur 658; BMC Galatia p. 227, 637; SNG Hunterian 3110; Dura Coins 579, EF, much mint luster, small rust encrustations, weight 12.255 g, maximum diameter 25.3 mm, die axis 180o, 2nd officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, first issue, Jun/Jul 251 - 252 A.D.; obverse AYTOK K Γ OYIB TPEB ΓAΛΛOC CEB (Imperator Caesar Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus Augustus), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind, •• below bust; reverse ΔHMAPX EΞOYCIAC (holder of Tribunitian power), eagle slightly right, wings open, head left, tail left, wreath in beak, B between legs, S C (senatus consulto) in exergue;
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