Surprising provenance find.

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Michael Stolt, Oct 1, 2020.

  1. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Since I've had quite a busy year I have not had the time to do a lot of provenance research. But yesterday while at work I was able to squeeze a few hours and catalogues in.

    And I got lucky. This is a recent purchase, which is still on its way to me, yielded a fantastic provenance back to an R. Ratto auction in 1925. Prior it only had a Numismatica Ars Classica provenance from 2003, so this is quite an improvement.

    Plates from the 1925 Ratto catalogue:

    varesi3.jpg



    Sellers photo:

    Varesi1.jpg

    Anonymous.
    207 BC. AR Denarius (3.98 g). Cornucopia (first) series. Rome mint.

    Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right; X (mark of value) to left.

    Reverse: The Dioscuri, each holding spear, on horseback right; two stars above, cornucopia below horses.

    Reference: Crawford 58/2.

    Provenance: Ex Numismatica Ars Classica auction 25 (25 June 2003), lot 251.


    Catalogue covers:

    upload_2020-10-1_23-6-43.png
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 1, 2020
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  3. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    Wow! Great find on that Provenance!!
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  4. Broucheion

    Broucheion Well-Known Member

    Hi @Michael Stolt,

    That bit of extra metal above the lances clinches it. Great work. You are now safe from the Italian police.

    - Broucheion
     
    DonnaML and Michael Stolt like this.
  5. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you! :)
     
  6. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you! :)
     
  7. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    italian police car.jpg
     
  8. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    great coin and provenance Mike!:) (love the Dioscuri^^)
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
  9. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

  10. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Thank you! :)
     
    ominus1 likes this.
  11. FitzNigel

    FitzNigel Medievalist

    Mind if I ask your process @Michael Stolt? Do you just go through catalogues hoping to recognize something, or something a little more targeted?
     
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  12. Broucheion

    Broucheion Well-Known Member

    From https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/...lity-to-collect-ancient-roman-imperial-coins/


    In 1970 at a meeting in Paris, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization–better known as UNESCO–adopted the “Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property”.

    You may be familiar with the fact that the year 1970 is something of a cutoff date when it comes to provenance. Coins that were already outside their countries of origin before 1970 are fair game, while coins exported after 1970 are subject to legal scrutiny. The UNESCO convention is why.



    It’s just worth noting. No need to vent about it. I loved the pix @ominus1 posted.

    - Broucheion
     
    ominus1 likes this.
  13. Michael Stolt

    Michael Stolt Well-Known Member

    Sometimes I do targeted searches (usually when I've bought something new or prior to an auction). Other times I just go through a lot of catalogues in hope of recognizing something. Also, it is really enjoying to just browse thorugh a lot of older collections, some really fantastic coins out there :)
     
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  14. robp

    robp Well-Known Member

    This is why you can never have too many books and catalogues. :)
     
  15. Cicero12

    Cicero12 Well-Known Member

    That’s a great find!
     
    Michael Stolt likes this.
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