This last CNG eAuction wasn't my first time bidding in an auction of theirs, but it was my first time winning! It was a pretty easy process and they arrived yesterday. I felt I did pretty good, with both my winning bids closing at about 75% of the estimate, and am very pleased with the results. In hand, I'm really impressed with this first coin: it's crispness, it's weight and size, and it's history (I find the Mamertine mercenaries, their history, and their role in the Punic skirmishes fascinating). Sicily, Messana, The Mamertinoi Circa 288-278 BC, AE Quadruple Unit Obverse: APEOΣ, Laureate head of Ares right; helmet head behind. Reverse: MAMEP-TI-NΩN, Bull butting left. References: Särström Series I, Group A; Calciati I pg. 91, 1; SNG ANS 399; SNG Copenhagen 428; SNG Morcom 623 Size: 27mm, 17.51g Ex: CNG Auction 447, Lot 20 (7/3/2019); CNG Mail Bid Sale 67, Lot 287 (9/22/2004); From the Tony Hardy Collection It goes really well with my smaller Double Unit that I already had in my collection: Sicily, Messana, The Mamertinoi Circa 288-278 BC, AE Double Unit Obverse: APEOΣ, Laureate head of Ares right; spear head behind. Reverse: MAME-P-TINΩN, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt. References: SNG ANS 401; Calciati I pg. 91, 2 Size: 22mm, 8.0g There was the big brother to this coin in the lot following the one I won, but I chose to go after one with a different type of reverse. Though my second coin isn't as crisp and easy-on-the-eyes, it's no slouch in the history department. Carthage, Libyan Revolt Circa 241-238 BC, AE Half Shekel Mint on Sardinia Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left. Reverse: Three grain ears; inverted crescent above. References: MAA –; CNP 696a; SNG Copenhagen 252 var. (pellet below crescent). Size: 20mm, 3.18g Ex: CNG Auction 447, Lot 44 (7/3/2019) Notes: After the First Punic War, Carthage, who was destitute with having to pay indemnities to Rome, was unable (refused?) to pay the mercenaries who fought on their behalf during that war. These mercenaries joined forces with Libyan settlements and revolted against Carthaginian control. Did you win a coin in the recent CNG Auction? Do you have a favorite CNG win? Do you have a coin related to these two new ones above? Let's see 'em!
Lovely coins. Congrats on your wins. Here are three of my favourites from CNG (I have bought quite a few from them) Vespasian.AD 69-79. AR Denarius Rome mint. Struck AD 74. (18.47 mm, 3.39 g, 6h). Obv: IMP CAESAR VESP AUG Laureate head right Rev: PONTIF MAXIM Vespasian seated right, holding scepter and branch. RIC II 685; BMCRE pg. 27 ; RSC 386. SRCV 1 (2000) 2305. Ex: J. Eric Engstrom Collection Ex: CNG E-auction 373, Lot 366 April 20, 2016 Galba. AD 68-69. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.51 g, 6h). Spanish mint (Tarraco?). Struck circa April-late AD 68. Obv: GALBA IMP Laureate bust right, [globe at point of bust] Rev: VIRTVS, Virtus standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand, cradling parazonium with left arm. RIC I 31; RSC 333a. Fine, toned Ex: CNG 417, Lot 427 March 28, 2018 (sold for 360.00 plus fees) Ex: CNG 425, Lot: 403. July 25, 2018 Coin depicted on the Wildwinds database Gaius (Caligula), with Divus Augustus. AD 37-41. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.26 g, 5h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. 1st emission, AD 37. Obv :Bare head of Gaius (Caligula) right C. CAESAR. AVG. GERM. P. M. TR. POT. COS Rev: Radiate head of Divus Augustus right, between two stars. RIC I 2; Lyon 157; RSC 11. Fine, toned, deposits, chipped at edges, a few scratches. CNG E-auction 428 Lot 344 September 5, 2018
I believe I may have a few coins in my collection that were sold there but I have never bid with them. Congratulations on your scores @Justin Lee - I too love the history of the Mamertines.
Great wins @Justin Lee ! I am a big fan of those coins and their History! Here are a couple of mine to cover your bets: MAMERTINI Sicily Mamertini 288-278 BCE AE Pentonkion Mars-Eagle Mercenary Samnites Messana LIBYAN / MERCENARY REVOLT @Justin Lee ... look into how this war was fought... it is claimed to have some of the more brutal and cruel battles ever fought. Humans REALLY hating Humans in this History... Carthage - LIBYAN REVOLT Rebels 241-238 BCE 9.63g 24mm Shekel Sardinia mint Tanit 3 Grain ears Crescent SNG Cop 247
I'm kind of mad I missed that one! I too am fascinated by the Mamertines. They were really horrible! I particularly like how they pretended to befriend the people of Messana, then killed or kicked out all the men and took their land and women. Then they turned Messana (and the surrounding area) into a veritable pirate kingdom. Anyway, here's my Mamertine coin.
@Justin Lee - I love looking at those auctions - great wins!... can you please tell us what the end price was? Shipping, currency conversion, etc. Was it worth it in the end? I think you did well for sure.... but I do not have all of the costs.. - that is what I need to consider - and I appreciate the feedback.
Congrats on your first CNG win! That hefty green Mamertine bronze is a wonderful score. Some of my favorite coins have come from CNG. Here's the very first one I won in one of their auctions, CNG E-313, back in October 2013. It's still one of my favorite Provincials. SEVERUS ALEXANDER AE24. 6.97g, 24.6mm. TROAS, Alexandria Troas, 222-235 AD. RPC Online Vol. VI temp #3994; cf. Bellinger A338 (obv A338, rev A225 Type 44). O: IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust left, holding spear & shield decorated with head of Medusa. R: COL AVG, horse grazing right, the herdsman Ordes behind holding pedum (shepherd's crook), tree to left, TROAC in exergue.
Thanks, everyone! Great coins! Vespasian looks so happy and jovial on that obverse! I'm definitely have to do that... I've only read a bit of what's on Wikipedia and a few other summarized sources. Do you have any good sources for more info into this war? First, very nice coin, Nathan! I want to read on more detail what occurred during their time in Messana... And suggested areas to explore? First, Kate at CNG was very helpful and responsive (within hours). They had a Vcoins generic payment portal that I was able to use to pay my invoice with CC (no fees). They are located in Pennsylvania. You can do wire transfers and using TransferWise is the best I've used for international rates and conversion (by a lot!). The buyers premium is decent at 18% and, for me at least being in US, the shipping was great at $11 and includes insurance and signature. The sale ended the 3rd, I took a couple days to pay, and they shipped a day or two after that and shipping took about 4 days (again, domestic shipping). So if you bought coin(s) totaling $200 (USD) + $36 BP + $11 S/H = $247 paid... In comparison to other auctions (AMCC aside, cuz they obviously are better) very reasonable! I do enjoy that patina! And that's a nice coin to find in a lot! What else was in the lot? Thanks, Z! Very nice SA! So much great design going for it... It's take a while just staying to take it all in! And tells a lot about the history and daily life of the area. I wonder if this obverse design inspired Julian II?
One of my more recent winnings from CNG was this coin Pupienus Ar Denarius Rv Pax std l. RIC 4 3.11 grms Purchased from CNG E Auction 444 Lot 394. Previously Kunker Auction 318 Lot 1538
Nice scores! They usually have some great Greek material, but it also rarely goes cheap! Some of my favorite coins were CNG wins. Probably my top few offhand: Alexander the Great Lifetime AR Tetradrachm, Tarsus mint Pupienus AR Antoninianus, CARITAS MVTVA AVGG Balbinus AR Antoninianus, CONCORDIA AVGG Probably shouldn't give away my secrets, but I have always enjoyed their job lots at the end of their e-auctions. Not quite as nice as the coins in Leu or Nomos lots, but rarely do you end up with lots of garbage. Some of my favorite finds: Aulerci Cenomani AR Quinarius? A very rare transitional style; neither naturalistic, nor abstracted to the point of geometric shapes. An incredibly crisp Standing Caliph fals A rare Hyrcodes obol from Soghd with a horse reverse A massive Ptolemy IV (Two of the same in the lot; sold one for more than the entire lot itself) A Yazgard III drachm of fine style from the year the Sassanian empire ceased to exist
Congrats on your wins, OP, and hope there will be many more. My first CNG win - Thebes stater from E-228 (lot 58), BCD Boiotia 537, 24th Feb. 2010: Latest CNG win - anonymous RR denarius Cr. 107/1b - I expect this to be delivered tomorrow: ATB, Aidan.
