Current Lots and Archive

Trajan Decius. A.D. 249-251. AR antoninianus. 4.32 gm. 22 mm. Rome mint. A.D. 250. His radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG / The two Pannoniae standing facing, heads turned outward, each holding signum; PANNONIAE. RIC IV.3 21b. RSC 86. Good Extremely Fine; lustrous; lightly iridescent toning. Exceptional example.

Probus. A.D. 276-282. Billon antoninianus. 3.88 gm. 21.5 mm. Rome mint, 6th officina. Struck A.D. 277. His helmeted, and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield; VIRTVS PROBI AVG / Probus on horseback left, raising right hand in salute, long sceptre in left hand; horse's foreleg raised over bound captive seated on ground to left; ADVENTVS PROBI AVG around, R S in exergue. RIC V.2 166 (S). Good Extremely Fine; excellent strike well centered on a broad flan; choice with extensive silvering. Superb portrait. Scarce.

Carus. A.D. 282-283. Antoninianus. 3.93 gm. 22 mm. Antioch mint, 3rd officina. His radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG / Carus standing right, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter (or Carinus) standing left, holding scepter; VIRTVS AVGG around, * above, Γ between, XXI in exergue. RIC V.2 124. As Struck; handsome coin with full silvering, mint mirror luster (very rare thus). Well centered on a broad flan.

Father of Carinus and Numerian. NB Lots 50 and 51 are matched coins from the same collection.

Late in A.D. 283 on campaign after defeating and routing the Persians, Carus was killed by lightning in his camp before he could follow up on his success.

Carinus. As Caesar, A.D. 282-283. Æ antoninianus. 4.28 gm. 20.5 mm. Cyzicus mint, 6th officina. His radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; M AVR CARINVS NOB CAES / Prince standing right, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter (or Carus) standing left, holding scepter; CLEMENTIA TEMP around, S between, XXI in exergue. RIC V.2 324 var. (bust type, officina). Good Extremely Fine; fully silvered, some minor red deposits on reverse; good style bust, well centered and bold.

Elder son of Carus and brother of Numerian. From the same collection as lot 50.

Numerian. As Augustus, A.D. 283-284. Antoninianus. 3.9 gm. 21 mm. Rome mint, 2nd officina. A.D. 283. His radiate and cuirassed bust right; IMP NVMERIANVS AVG / Jupiter standing left, holding Victory and scepter; eagle at feet to left; IOVI VICTORI around, KAB in exergue. RIC V.2 410. Good Very Fine; nicely silvered; well centered on a broad flan.

From an old European collection.

Younger son of Carus and brother of Carinus. In November 284 he was murdered in his litter on the way back from Carus's Persian campaign.

ROMAN BRITAIN. Carausius (Usurper in Britain and NW Gaul). A.D. 287-293. Æ antoninianus. 2.72 gm. 20 mm. Uncertain mint. His radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; IMP...AVG / Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm; COMES AVG. RIC V.2 750. Cf. S. Eng. 670. Good Very Fine; pleasing example, as made; smooth brown patina with lighter highlights; portrait bold and well centered; reverse off-center. Rare.

Diocletian. As Senior Augustus, A.D. 305-311/2. Æ follis. 9.95 gm. 28 mm. Abdication issue. Ticinum mint, 1st officina. Struck circa A.D. 305. His laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding olive branch and mappa; D N DIOCLETIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG / Providentia standing right, extending hand to Quies standing left, holding branch and leaning on scepter; PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG around, P T in exergue. RIC VI 57a. Good Extremely Fine; sharply struck on a broad flan; glossy brown patina. Choice example.

Maximianus. As Senior Augustus (1st reign), A.D. 305-307. Æ follis. 9.86 gm. 28.5 mm. Treveri (Trier) mint, 1st officina. Struck A.D. 305-306. His laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding olive branch and mappa; D N MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG / Providentia standing right, extending hand to Quies standing left, holding branch and leaning on scepter; PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG around, S-F flanking, PTR in exergue. RIC VI 676b. Extremely Fine; well struck on a broad flan. Choice.

Julian II. A.D. 360-363. Æ follis. 2.94 gm. 20 mm. Constantinople mint, 1st officina. Struck A.D. 361-362. His pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield; D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS P F AVG / VOT / X / MVLT / XX in four lines within wreath, CONSPA below. RIC VIII 166. Near Extremely Fine; glossy dark green patina.

Highly literate, Julian is known as "the Apostate" because he favored the old pagan religion over Christianity, but he is also perhaps more accurately known as "Philosopher" due to his many writings.

Julian II. A.D. 360-363. Æ. 7.44 gm. 26.5 mm. Heraclea mint, 1st officina. Struck A.D. 361-363. His pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG / Bull standing right; two stars above; SECVRITAS REI PVB around, HERACL•A in exergue. RIC VIII 104. Extremely Fine; fields lightly chased; smooth brown patina; handsome portrait. Exceptional example, well centered and boldly struck on a full round flan.

Valens. A.D. 364-378. AR siliqua. 2.3 gm. 17.5 mm. Treveri (Trier) mint, 1st officina. Struck A.D. 367-375. His pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; D N VALENS P F AVG / Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and spear; VRBS ROMA around, TRPS in exergue. RIC IX 27e.2. RSC 109†b. Superb Extremely Fine; sharply struck, with prooflike surfaces; brilliant luster with iridescence and rich old tone; fine style.

BYZANTINE EMPIRE. Justinian I. 527-565. Æ half follis. 11.3 gm. 29 mm. Constantinople mint, 5th officina. Dated RY 12 (538/9). His helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield; cross to right / Large K; A/N/N/O to left, XII (date) to right, cross above, E below. SB 165. Very Fine; green and brown patina; cleaning marks on obverse; well centered and well struck on a full round flan.

Justinian I ruled the Byzantine Empire for almost four decades, a Golden Age of territorial expansion, achievements in ecclesiastical architecture, etc. He is perhaps most noted for codifying Roman law, thereby passing down for generations to come the best in the legal system that had evolved over many centuries

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Velia. Circa 280 B.C. Silver didrachm (or nomos) copy. 21.5 mm. (7.72 gm., the actual piece). A female head right, wearing a diadem of pearls / A lion attacking a stag; ΥΕΛΗΤΕΩΝ, Δ below. Head plate 13, 15.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Islands off Troas. Tenedos. Circa 100-70 B.C. Silver tetradrachm copy. 26 mm. (12.96 gm., the actual piece). A Janiform head, male and female / A double-axe, grape cluster and bee below; ΤΕΝΕΔΙΟΥ. Head plate 18, 29.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Ionia. Clazomenae. Circa 380 B.C. Gold stater copy. 15 mm. (5.70 gm., the actual piece). Head of Apollo facing slightly right / A swan standing right stretching its wings; ΚΛΑΖΟ ΑΘΗΝ ΑΓΟΡΑΣ. Head plate 19, 32.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Iasus?. Circa 395 B.C. Silver didrachm copy. 29.5 mm. (15.31 gm., the actual piece). Head of Persian satrap right / Lyre with seven strings; ΒΑΣΙΛ. Head plate 19, 41.

Head: "It has been ascribed to the time when Tissaaphernes was collecting his forces against Dercylidas in 395 at Issus."

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Boeotia. Thebes. Circa 405-395. Silver stater copy. 20 mm. (12.18 gm, the actual piece). Boeotian shield / Head of bearded Dionysus wearing an ivy wreath, three quarters facing, turned slightly right. Head plate 23, 35.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Italy. Bruttium. Pandosia. Circa 350 B.C. Silver drachm copy. 22 mm. (7.78 gm., the actual piece). Head of Lara Lacinia wearing a lofty stephanos adorned with griffin foreparts and honeysuckles, three quarters facing, turned slightly right / Pan, the Hunter, seated on a rock, a hound at his feet; at left a bearded terminal figure with a caduceus. Head plate 25, 23.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Sicily. Syracuse. Circa 317-289 B.C. Electrum stater copy. 18.5 mm. (6.89 gm., the actual piece). Head of Apollo left; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ / Head of Artemis right, bow and quiver behind. Head plate 26, 33.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Syria. Antiochos VI Dionysos. 144-142 B.C. Silver tetradrachm copy. 31 x 35 mm. 16.53 gm actual coin weight. Radiate bust of young Antiochus IV Dionysus right / The Dioscuri charging left; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΥ in four lines; date ΘΖΡ (Year 169 = 144/3 BC); ΤΡΥ over Φ in field for his guardian Tryphon. Head plate 40, 25. As made; an extreme rarity in the series.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

Classic Greece. Robert Ready British Museum electrotype. Pyrrhus. In the West. 295-272 B.C. Gold stater copy. 19.5 mm. (8.59 gm. the actual piece). Head of Athena right, an owl behind / Nike carrying an oak wreath and a trophy; ΠΥΡΡΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ. Head plate 37, 15.

All Greek electrotypes offered here are in two separate halves.

An in-hand experience of the finest of Greek coinage

Robert Ready British Museum Electrotypes

In the late 1850’s the British Museum hired the seal-maker, Robert Ready, to produce copies of some of the finest coins in the British Museum collection. With an electrotyping technique they had perfected Ready and his sons produced exact replicas of the actual museum coins. They were produced in two parts, an obverse and a reverse. We acquired a select group of some of the most beautiful and important pieces they produced. All of these were direct copper casts of the actual coins and all have been gilt to illustrate the color of the actual coin, silver or gold. (Numbering based on Barclay Head’s 1889 work A Guide to the Principal Gold and Silver Coins of the Ancients. Published by the British Museum. Modified and republished in 1932; subsequently modified slightly and republished in 1959.)

ASHMOLEAN ELECTROTYPE. Constantius I. As Caesar, A.D. 293-305. Æ medallion copy. 21.17 gm. 33 mm. His laureate bust left, wearing imperial mantle; FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C / The three Monetae standing left, each holding cornucopia and scale above stack of coins at their feet; MONETA AV GG. Cf. Cohen 194. Gnecchi -. A rare and historic replica of a very rare and historic piece. Roman medallions were produced each year by the Rome mint to be handed out as personal gifts of the emperor.

Comes with old roundrel identifying it as "Ashmolean Electro" – presumably from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Purchased from CNG in a group lot of several medallion electrotypes in the early 2000s.

The Tres Monetae are the female personifications gold, silver, and bronze, or stand-ins to represent the three magistrates in charge of producing gold, silver, and bronze coins.

Electrotype of English hammered coinage. Aethelheard (Coenwulf as overlord). 792-805. Penny electrotype. 19 mm. Second issue. The British Museum piece weighs 21.3 grains (1.38 gm). (?-796). +ΛEDILHEΛRD ΛRC : C; EP, bar above / +O FF ΛR EX around, divided by arms of a cross patee; Μ, bar above, in center. BMC Vol I: 22 (Pl. XIII:3). N. 231. S. 886A. (Seaby/Spink Standard Catalog plate coin, 1976 to 2007). As made. The obverse of this piece was consistently shown upside down in Standard Catalog issues until the 2007 revision.

All British electrotypes offered here are joined into a single piece.

Electrotypes of Anglo-Saxon and English coins in the British Museum

Used for the Standard Catalog prior to 2007

These double-thick electrotypes of British Museum Anglo-Saxon and English hammered coins have not had the prominence of the series of Greek coin electros we have been offering. But they are direct copies of pieces in the British Museum and many can be seen in the plates of the the two BMC volumes issued in 1887 and 1893: Keary & Poole, A Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum, Anglo-Saxon Series Volume I. and Grueber & Keary, A Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum, Anglo-Saxon Series Volume II.

These copies were used for the production of the reference that has become the standard for English coins, the Spink Standard Catalog.  (Prior to 1998 the publication was known as the Seaby Standard Catalog.) The pieces offered here are the actual pieces photographed for all the annual catalogs from the small format 15th edition in 1976 until the major revision in the 42nd edition 2007, when the catalog changed from black and white to color. (Prior to the larger size publications begun with the 16th edition in 1978, the earlier editions beginning in 1962 were smaller 5 by 7 ½ inch books. Earlier still, prior to 1962 the publications were larger and thinner with drawings rather than photographs illustrating the coins.)

They are apparently extremely rare if not generally unique. I have seen a very few examples of other types in this format being offered but never a duplication of any offered here. (AD)

Electrotype of English hammered coinage. Cuthred (King of Kent). 796-807. Penny electrotype. 19 mm. First Series. The British Museum piece weighs 21.1 grains (1.37 gm). His bust right; +CVDRED REX CΛNT around / Large cross-crosslet in center; +BEORNFRED MONETΛ (Beornfrth). BMC Vol I; Cuthred 1. Plate XI: 3. N. 211. S. 877. (Seaby/Spink Standard Catalog plate coin, 1976 to 2007). As made.

All British electrotypes offered here are joined into a single piece.

Electrotypes of Anglo-Saxon and English coins in the British Museum

Used for the Standard Catalog prior to 2007

These double-thick electrotypes of British Museum Anglo-Saxon and English hammered coins have not had the prominence of the series of Greek coin electros we have been offering. But they are direct copies of pieces in the British Museum and many can be seen in the plates of the the two BMC volumes issued in 1887 and 1893: Keary & Poole, A Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum, Anglo-Saxon Series Volume I. and Grueber & Keary, A Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum, Anglo-Saxon Series Volume II.

These copies were used for the production of the reference that has become the standard for English coins, the Spink Standard Catalog.  (Prior to 1998 the publication was known as the Seaby Standard Catalog.) The pieces offered here are the actual pieces photographed for all the annual catalogs from the small format 15th edition in 1976 until the major revision in the 42nd edition 2007, when the catalog changed from black and white to color. (Prior to the larger size publications begun with the 16th edition in 1978, the earlier editions beginning in 1962 were smaller 5 by 7 ½ inch books. Earlier still, prior to 1962 the publications were larger and thinner with drawings rather than photographs illustrating the coins.)

They are apparently extremely rare if not generally unique. I have seen a very few examples of other types in this format being offered but never a duplication of any offered here. (AD)

Electrotype of English hammered coinage. Aethelbearht. 858-865/6. Penny electrotype. 21 mm. BM Type i. Inscribed cross. The British Museum piece weighs 20.2 grains (1.31 gm). Circa 858-862/4. His portrait right; +ΛEDELBEΛRHT (elided) REX / +BΛDEM on a horizontal arm of a cross, VND MO bottom to top on the vertical arm; Λ N E T in the angles of the cross. BMC Vol II; Aethelbearht 1. N. 620. S. 1053. (Seaby/Spink Standard Catalog plate coin, 1976 to 2007). As made.

All British electrotypes offered here are joined into a single piece.

Electrotypes of Anglo-Saxon and English coins in the British Museum

Used for the Standard Catalog prior to 2007

These double-thick electrotypes of British Museum Anglo-Saxon and English hammered coins have not had the prominence of the series of Greek coin electros we have been offering. But they are direct copies of pieces in the British Museum and many can be seen in the plates of the the two BMC volumes issued in 1887 and 1893: Keary & Poole, A Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum, Anglo-Saxon Series Volume I. and Grueber & Keary, A Catalogue of English Coins in the British Museum, Anglo-Saxon Series Volume II.

These copies were used for the production of the reference that has become the standard for English coins, the Spink Standard Catalog.  (Prior to 1998 the publication was known as the Seaby Standard Catalog.) The pieces offered here are the actual pieces photographed for all the annual catalogs from the small format 15th edition in 1976 until the major revision in the 42nd edition 2007, when the catalog changed from black and white to color. (Prior to the larger size publications begun with the 16th edition in 1978, the earlier editions beginning in 1962 were smaller 5 by 7 ½ inch books. Earlier still, prior to 1962 the publications were larger and thinner with drawings rather than photographs illustrating the coins.)

They are apparently extremely rare if not generally unique. I have seen a very few examples of other types in this format being offered but never a duplication of any offered here. (AD)