Spear

Constantius II, 337-361 A.D. RR

AV Solidus, 4.56g. Trier mint, 353 A.D. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG. Cuirassed and draped bust of Constantius to right wearing jeweled diadem. Rev. VICTORIA AVG NOSTRI; TR in exergue. The emperor standing to left wearing cuirass and holding globe and spear; Victory with spread wings advancing to left holding palm and wreath. RIC 331. Depeyrot 14/2(2 examples listed). Very rare with only two examples listed in Depeyrot. Lustrous mint state with some light die corrosion on the obverse

This very rare type was struck during the final days of Magnentius when the city of Trier had revolted in favor of Constantius II.

The solidi of this rare issue are heavier than usual with this one weighing 4.56 rather than the usual 4.45g.; some examples are at an even higher weight. Kent notes in RIC that these may have been issued to contrast with the light weight solidi of Magnentius at this time and to show the stability of the legitimate ruler.

 

See more detailed image
Mint State $28,000.

Theodosius II, 402-450 A.D. Thessalonica

AV Solidus, 4.43g. 21mm.  Thessalonica mint, c.408-420 A.D. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG.  Bust of Theodosius facing slightly to the right; he wears pearl-diademed helmet and cuirass; he holds spear and shield emblazoned with horeseman spearing fallen enemy scene.   Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG; TESOB in exergue. Constantinopolis enthrroned and facing; she holds Victory on globe and scepter; her right foot rests on the prow of a ship; eight-pointed star in field to left.   RIC X, 358. Hahn 54b.   Depeyrot 49/4. Rare variety.    This die is unusually well engraved; note the fine detail in the emperor's fingers and shield as well as on the garb of the personification on the reverse.  Fully lusrous and struck on an unusually thick and sligtly wavy flan.

See more detailed image
Mint State $7,500.

Zeno, 2nd Reign, 476-491 A.D. Thessalonica

AV Solidus, 4.44g. 20mm. Thessalonica mint. D N ZENO PERP AVG. Facing bust of Zeno with head turned slightly to the right wearing crested helmet and cuirass divided into two panels; he holds spear over right shoulder and carries a shield emblazoned with a horseman device on his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVGGG; CONOB in exergue. Victory standing to left holding a long jeweled cross with "X" at cross-bar; stars in fields to left and right. RIC X, 941. MIRB 19. DO, LRC 666. Metcalf 228. Scarce mint and fully lustrous.

Provenance/Pedigree:
Ex: Sincona, Zurich, Auction 37, 2017, lot 62.

See more detailed image
Mint State $5,000.

Basiliscus and Marcus, 475-476 A.D.

AV Soiidus, 4.48g. 20mm.  Constantinople.  Three-quarter facing and helmeted bust of Basiliscus wearing cuirass and holding spear and shield. Rev. SALVS REIPVBLICAE H; CONOB in exergue.    Basiliscus and Marcus, as Caesar, enthroned and facing; they hold a globe between them; cross and star behind; insignificant flan defect below globe.  RIC X, 1022. Depeyrot 1041.  Excellent quality for this scarce issue and fully lustrous.

See more detailed image
Extremely Fine $5,500.

Uncertain Germanic Tribe

AV Solidus, 4.46g. 18.5 mm. Uncertain Germanic Tribes, in the name of Leo I (457-474 A.D.) Imitation of a Leo I solidus of Constantinople with barbaric style and degraded legends. OY LEO OE OOITAY(sic). Facing bust wearing cuirass, diadem, and plumed helmet; he carries spear and shield. Rev. VITORIA AYCCC(sic). Victory standing to left holding jeweled cross; star in field to right. CONOB in exergue. RIC_. Faegerlie_. BMC_. Lacam_. Collection N.K_ Cf. MEC I, 335 for a possibly related issue in the name of Zeno. Small scratch on reverse by Victory's waist; lustrous and nearly as struck. An interesting early imitative issue by one of the Germanic tribes; the crudity of the style and particularly of the inscriptions marks this as a non-Imperial issue. The exact tribal attribution from this period of migration is still uncertain.

 

See more detailed image
Extremely Fine $5,000.

Thessaly, The Oitaioi

AE Dichalkon, 4.73g. 17mm.  Struck during Oitaioi's membership in the Aetolian League in Herakleia Trachinia c.279-168 B.C. Laureate head of Apollo to right.  Rev. Monogram between spear and jawbone of the Kalydonnian boar; bunch of grapes to left. SNG COP 182.  Dark green-brown patina and with an exceptionally well detailed reverse.

Provenance/Pedigree

Ex: BCD collection, Nomos, Zurich, Auction 4, May 10, 2011. lot 1435.18

See more detailed image
Very Fine/good Very Fine $1,200.

Mysia, Parion, Macrinus, 217-218 A.D.

AE 31, 17.38g. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right. Rev. Emperor galloping to right holding spear. BMC_. SNG COP_. SNG France__. SNG von Aulock _. KLM_. RPC on line 3689(Severus Alexander). Possibly unpublished. Brown patina

Provenance/Pedigrees: 

Ex: Leu, Zurich, Web Auction 5, September 23, 2018, lot 481

See more detailed image
good Very Fine $1,500.

Troas, Ilium(Troy), Lucius Verus, 161-169 A.D.

AE 18, 5.07g. Bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Verus to right. Rev. Athena Ilias standing to right; she holds spear in her right hand and spindle in her left hand; shield at her feet. Bellinger T 156. BMC 58. Dark brown patina. Rare

Provenance/Pedigrees

Ex: Italo Vecchi, London, Auction 7, October 27, 1997, lot 1339 with original ticket.

See more detailed image
good Very Fine/about Extremely Fine $750.

Pamphylia, Side, Macrinus, 217-218 A.D.

AE 34, 23.20g, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Macrinus to right. Rev. Athena hurling spear to right with aegis draped over her arm. SNG von Aulock 4821(dies). SNG France_. Light green and brown patina with some encrustation. Rare as are most large module provincial bronzes for Macrinus

Provenance/Pedigrees: 

Ex: Leu, Zurich, Web Auction 7, February 23, 2019, lot 757

See more detailed image
Very Fine $1,500.

L. Licinius Macer, 84 B.C.

AR Denarius, 3.86g. 19mm. Diademed head of Vejovis to left hurling a thunderbolt. Rev. LICINIVS L F MACER in exergue. Minerva with spear and shield in quadriga to right. CR 354/1. Syd. 732. Lustrous with light toning.

Provenance/Pedigrees

Ex: Roberto Russo collection, NFA, Beverly Hills, Auction XXVII, December 4, 1991, lot 417.

See more detailed image
Extremely Fine $1,250.

Octavian, 29-27 B.C.
AR Denarius, 3.88g. 18mm. IMP. Helmeted head of Mars to right. Rv. CAESAR. Shield decorated with eight-rayed star at center in front of crossed spear and sword. BMC 644. RIC 274. Lovely old toning and an exceptionally well detailed reverse. See more detailed image
about Extremely Fine/Extremely Fine $2,500.

Lucius Verus, 161-169 A.D.

AR Denarius, 3.20g. 17mm.  Rome, 163/164 A.D.  L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS.  Bare head of Verus to right.  Rev.  TRP IIII IMP II COS II. Helmeted Mars with spear and shield standing to right.   RIC 515.  BMC 282.  Toned.

See more detailed image
Extremely Fine $1,000.

Maximinus, 235-238 A.D.

AR Denarius, 3.46g., 19.5mm,  April-late 235 A.D. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG.  Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Maximinus to right.  Rev. P M TR P PP.  Emperor standing and facing to left; he holds standard and spear.  RIC 1.  Toned.

Provenance/Pedigree:
Ex: Schenk-Behrens, Essen,  Auction, 1982, lot 288

See more detailed image
Extremely Fine/good Very Fine $400.

Carausius, 286-293 A.D.
AR Antonininaus, 4.54g. London mint. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Cauarusius to right. Rev. SAECVLI FELICITA. Carausius in military garb standing to right holding spear and shield. RIC V, pt. 2, 153. Some light corrosion spots on obverse. Scarce with nearly full silvering and toned. See more detailed image
about Extremely Fine/Extremely Fine $1,500.

Magnentius, 350-353 A.D.

AR Reduced Miliarense(formerly siliqua), 3.50g. 20 mm. Trier, c.350 A.D. IMP CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG. Bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Magnentius to right. Rv. VIRTVS EXERCITI. Soldier standing to right holding spear and shield; TR in exergue. RIC 305. Bastien 160,18. Fine old collection toning, an exceptionally sharp strike, and none of the usual cracking and damage.

Provenance/Pedigrees

Ex: NFA, West Hollywood, Auction XVIII, April 1, 1987, lot 579.
Ex: Tkalec and Rauch, Zurich, Auction, November 16, 1987, lot 502.

See more detailed image
Extremely Fine $7,500.

Postumus, 259-268 A.D.

AE Double Sestertius, 17.67g. Cologne, c.261 A.D. IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Postumus to right. Rv. P M TR P COS II PP S C. The emperor in military dress standing to left holding globe and spear. Bastien 63. RIC 106. Excellent style for this issue and with an attractive brown patina

See more detailed image
good Very Fine $2,750.

Nepotian, c. June 3-30, 350 A.D.

AE Follis, 4.97g. 22.5 mm. Rome mint. FL POP NEPOTIANVS P F AVG. Draped and cuirassed bust of Nepotian to right. Rv. VRBS ROMA; R S in exergue. Roma enthroned to left holding spear in left hand and victory on globe in right hand. RIC VIII,266,202. P. Bastien, Les émissions de Népotien à Rome et la date d'élévation de Décence au césarat, CIN Rome, 1961, Actes II (1965), 408 . Exceptional quality and fine style for this rarity which normally is seen in heavily worn condition; green and brown patina.

Provenance/Pedigrees

Ex: Herold Collection, Hess-Divo, Zurich, Auction 324, October 23, 2013, lot 115.

In 350, Nepotian and a small number of followers tried to regain control of Rome after Magnentius had murdered the emperor Constans and usurped power. They were successful in wresting control for a short period having killed Magnentius' praetorian prefect Anicetus and forced the urban prefecnt Titanus to withdraw from the city. Nepotian seized power and struck coins in gold and bronze at the city. However, his reign lasted for only 28 days until Magnentius countered by sending a force against him under the command of Marcellinus. The rebels were crushed and Nepotian as well as his mother Eutropia, a half-sister of Constantine, and other supporters were killed in a violent purge.

See more detailed image
Extremely Fine $35,000.