I'm a provenance hound and find that searching for old provenances significantly extends the enjoyment of the original "hunt" for any coin. I have 3 coins in Triton, but one has a really cool pedigree from a very significant auction of a benchmark Roman Republican coin collection owned by Joseph Martini of New York and sold by the famous auctioneer Rudolpho Ratto in 1930. It was a benchmark sale for the series, 3 years before Haeberlin, with 40 high quality plates filled with all sorts of high quality coins and rarities in all metals. I found this pedigree, lost to history, while going through the sale plates in my personal library. I bought the coin in 2009 from Hess Divo but upgraded it earlier this year. Really, I never expected to upgrade it as it is a beautiful coin with a nicely centered strike for the issue and truly sumptuous old cabinet tone. I hope it goes to a home with someone who appreciates it as much as I have. It's been a favorite. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=300580 Hess Divo AG Auction 314, May 4, 2009 Lot 1434; J. Vinchon, Paris (Hôtel Drouot) December 9-10 1983, Lot 241; Rodolpho Ratto, Collection Joseph Martini of New York, February 24, 1930, Lot 548 (est 20 Swiss Francs). Martini Plate Pictures from 1930. L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus AR Denarius (3.85g). Military mint travelling with Pompey, 49 BC. Facing head of Medusa in center of triskeles with grain ear between each leg / Jupiter standing facing, holding thunderbolt in right hand and eagle in lreft; LENT MAR upwards to left, COS upwards to right, (NT and MAR ligate). Crawford 445/1b; Sear 4; Sydenham 1029; Cornelia 64a
The Martini plates were made from plaster casts. It is a shame they did not convey with the coin. We have made great progress in coin illustrations for catalogs.
It's a wonderful coin. I wish you great luck in selling it... unless I decide to try for it and then I hope it goes for opening .
YES!! I totally agree, Doug! I have often wondered where all of those amazing casts ended up from early to mid 20th century auctions. Destroyed, probably.
Help me understand why they used to make and photograph plaster casts - as opposed to photographing the coin directly?
This is my question as well. What is the logic behind it? The only answer I can come up with is that perhaps the auction house did not have all the coins in their possession? They asked consignors to send them plaster casts for use in the catalog since cameras weren't ubiquitous as they are today?
A good question. My understanding is that it was done to make them easier to photograph because casts are all one color plus the front and back could be photographed at one time. Here is the full photographic plate from the auction: Next question: Those familiar with the series should recognize that these coins are "out of order" compared to what one would expect in a modern auction catalogue. Who knows why?
Because they are arranged by Babelon gens rather than chonologically. The Martini catalogue predates Sydenham and Crawford, in which chronological arrangements were adopted. I've had my eye on your coin....
Martini doesn't predate Grueber's BMC catalogue though, which is also chronological, albeit some of the dates have been revised since. Haeberlin for instance is arranged chronologically by Grueber numbers. What's maddening is the fact that some Italian and Spanish dealers still catalogue coins according to Babelon's family arrangement, as though the last 100+ years of research never happened at all.
Correct! If that happens, you'll be buying brunch. Unfortunately, I think your excellent provenance research will result in a provenance premium that I won't want to pay!
I agree with this. I audibly curse whenever I look at the Leo Benz Republican catalogue for provenance research.
A wonderful coin! The newly associated pedigree definitely adds value in my eyes as well. Best of luck during the sale, both buying and selling!
