Featured REPORT: Ancient Coins at the Getty Villa

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by hotwheelsearl, Sep 15, 2019.

  1. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    I went to the Getty Villa in Malibu, CA the other day and was amazed at their incredible collection of very nice, very valuable, very old gold and silver coins. Here are some of my favorites!
    (apologies that some pics are blurry, I didn't review each photo after taking)

    Athenian Owl Tetradrachm
    IMG_E0622.JPG

    (forgot attribution) Sea Turtle IMG_E0623.JPG

    (forgot) Goat IMG_E0624.JPG

    Opontion Soldier tet? IMG_E0625.JPG

    (forgot) tet? IMG_E0627.JPG

    (forgot) Lyre tet? IMG_E0628.JPG

    Aureus with bust of Sibyl by L. Cestius and C. Norbanus.
    Rome Mint, 43 BC
    Has a very neat "collector's mark" of the Este family to left of portrait.
    IMG_E0668.JPG

    Medallion of Tetrarchs (no denomination)
    Augusta Treverorum (Trier) AD 293-294 IMG_E0687.JPG
     
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  3. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Incredible woman's belt filled with Aureus coins! WOW! Contains aurei of 5 emperors - can you name them all?
    Constantinople, AD 379-395
    IMG_E0689.JPG IMG_E0690.JPG
    IMG_E0691.JPG

    Julius Caesar aureus
    43 BC
    IMG_E0701.JPG
    Constantine I AE solidus
    AD 330
    IMG_E0702.JPG
    Valens AE 4 1/2 solidus (medallion)
    AD 375-378
    IMG_E0705.JPG
    Ptolemy III of Egypt AE octadrachm
    Alexandria, 221-204 BC
    IMG_E0725.JPG
    Alexander the Great AR tetradrachm
    Kios, 288-281 BC
    struck by King Lysimachos of Thrace
    IMG_E0727.JPG
     
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  4. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Antimachos I of Bactria AR tetradrachm
    Bactria, 185-170
    IMG_E0729.JPG
    Berenike II, wife of Ptolemy III AE decadrachm
    Alexandria, 246-221 BC
    IMG_E0731.JPG
    Syracuse quadriga AR decadrachm
    IMG_E0738.JPG
    Akragas eagle AR tetradrachm
    415-406 BC
    IMG_E0741.JPG
     
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  5. thomas mozzillo

    thomas mozzillo Well-Known Member

    To your knowledge, has anyone estimated the value of the collection? Can't even imagine the value of the belt. :jawdrop:
     
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  6. Carl Wilmont

    Carl Wilmont Well-Known Member

    Nice photos of the museum exhibits. The Getty Villa is an interesting place to visit.
     
  7. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    I was unable to find values for the coins specifically. On display is probably just a fraction of the entire collection. Just the ones in display already have enormous value.
    The belt is insane! Just the gold value is crazy. Plus the beautiful glass buckle inlay and the coin settings... buy you a few houses here and there!

    Off the top of my head, I know that Getty spend the modern equivalent of around $42million on a single statue, the Venus of Morgantina back in 1982(7?). So Getty was in the market for the good good :)
     
  8. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    OK, now I have to get mine off my phone...
     
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  9. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Also, an insane Greek golden laurel wreath for good measure.
    300-100BC
    The state of preservation is astounding
    27D935A8-04FC-4EB2-967B-C293DFCEA1DA.jpeg
     
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  10. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    Here's a wide view of one of the many displays
    [​IMG]
    Closeups
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Other wide shots
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Overwhelming...
     
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  11. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    The people I was with got tired of me ooo-ing and aaa-ing and "I have that one" not many times...
     
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  12. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the display pictures! It’s even more impressive when you can see just how many coins there are!
     
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  13. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

  14. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    This 1 took my breath away and I do not know ancients...

    IMG_E0731.jpg
     
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  15. Yorkshire

    Yorkshire Well-Known Member

    That reminds me of when this was all over the news;
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  16. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    What incredible coins @hotwheelsearl! Thank you for posting those pics!
     
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  17. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    …………………and all the rest posted!
     
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  18. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    Good grief @Yorkshire! Only in Blighty! Thank you for posting that.
     
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  19. savitale

    savitale Well-Known Member

    Beautiful coins. The presentation looks kind of blah for a museum as storied as the Getty though. Do they provide any interpretative guides for the coins on display?
     
  20. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    They do! Next to each display, there's an interactive iPad that displays additional information, as well as the ability to zoom into both sides, including the undisplayed side.
     
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  21. 1934 Wreath Crown

    1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

    Fabulous collection......One could spend hours drooling over those exhibits. Thanks for sharing.
     
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