rrd top 10 2023

 

rrd top 10 2023

12/24/2023

This year has a variety of treasures. The order of all but #1 could change depending on how you value rare vs pretty and coins vs scale weights. It is hard to believe I bought my first Julius Caesar portrait denarius and it did not make the top 10. I picked up two scale weights from the David Hendon auction in January and only one made top 10.

I had three misses that would have been highlights, but did not come my way. I will show those later.

1.     100 As Roman stone Weight with handle. 2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D. Of biconical form and bearing an engraved letter 'C' to the top face; slightly concave base; iron handle showing some corrosion.  13 3/4 in. (30.3 kg = 67 #, or about a bushel of wheat), 35 cm wide).

2.     Two Libra (As) Commercial Weight

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN/AEGEAN. Late Hellenistic to Roman Imperial Period. Cast PB Dupondius Weight (92x90mm, 704.00 g).

Obverse - Blank in simple raised molded frame; | | (mark of weight) inlaid in copper /

Reverse - Blank, but for etched name ANTONINVS.

Brown patina, some marks.

3.     Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. C. Vibius Varus. 42 BC. AR Denarius Rome mint.

Laureate and bearded head of Hercules right

Minerva standing right, holding spear and Victory; shield set on ground to right.

Light golden toning. Good VF. (17.5mm, 3.91 g, 9h). Crawford 494/37; 

4.     Etruria, Volterrae Æ As circa 217-215,

Obv - Janiform head of Culsans wearing pointed cap.

Rev - Club; in field r., mark of value: I, Etruscan ethnic 'velaθri' around.

62.00 mm., 143.76 g.

Haeberlin pl. 83, 7. 

5.     Cast Uncia, Greek Italy. Uncertain Umbria or Etruria. AE, c. 3rd century BC.

Obv. Club. / Rev. Dot.

Vecchi ICC 200; Haeb. pl. 81,42.43.

11.49 grams, 23.0 mm.

R. Rare. Attractive earthy green patina. About EF.

I have several 2 dot coins of this series, both large and small series. I have wanted this type for a while.

6.     Roman Republic, Aes grave, Roma / Roma series, Semis, 269 - 240 BC, Rome mint

D\ Head of Mars in Corinthian helmet, facing right, under S in retrograde.

R\ Head of Mars, facing left, under S.

Weight 124.50 grams, Diameter 52 mm.

BB+. Green Patina

Cataloguers have different names for the heads on this coin. Mars and Minerva are the most common, but juvenile head and Head of warrior hero were also used.

7.     24 Nomismata, NKΔ, Byzantine Empire Æ Weight. Circa 5th-7th Century AD. Silver inscription inlay: + ΑΓΙΑ ΜΑΡΙΑ ΒΟHΘΙCΟΝ on raised circle enclosing monogram between two crosses over denominational number NKΔ; CE - YX - AP - IC in four corners / Blank. Unpublished in the standard references. A similar weight (N OB = 72 nomisma) is on the cover of Collections du Musée d’art et d’histoire - Genève, Geneva 2015, p. 38,  109.10g, 39mm. Extremely Fine  

This imposing weight is part of a series that carries two silver inlayed invocations: ΑΓΙΑ ΜΑΡΙΑ ΒΟHΘΙCΟΝ (= Saint Mary help us) and in the four corners: ΘE – YX – AP – IC (= the grace of God).

8.     30 Nomismata, ΛN, Bronze Coin Weight, Romano-Byzantine, 4th-5th centuries CE.

Ov - Two facing imperial busts within arched distyle shrine, letters ΛN below. Brown surfaces, minor traces of silver. / Rev - Blank.

117 grams; 41mm Diameter, 10 mm thick

From the David Hendin Collection, a few minor marks from usage.

9.     Skythia, Olbia. Cast bronze coin, ca. 470-460 BC.

Obverse: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet; to left, dolphin upward; all within incuse circle. Reverse: Wheel with four spokes; [magistrate's name Π-A-Y-Σ around].

Extremely Rare - just a few specimens known. Green patina. Very Fine.

65.75 grams / 46 dia X 8 mm

10.     BYZANTIUM. Round commercial weight. AE 6 Unciae ø 48mm (152.82g). ca. 6th century A.D. Bronze weight with profiled edge. Engraved on the top and provided with metal inlays: Two squares placed over corners with head inlays. Circumferential ΘEOV XAPIC ("God's Grace"). Inside cross and Γ (= Uncia) - S (= 6). The inscription inlaid in silver. Very nice specimen!

ΘEOV XAPIC: Gottes Gnaden, German; God's Grace, English; Gracia de Dios, Spanish