First of all, does anyone have a scan of Christie's 7-2-68 and 11-12-68? Or, can you look up to see if this coin was in there as a solo lot? If indeed this coin was there, it was probably as a group lot, unfortunately. These coins didn't come from the same buy, but are a couple with old provenances. The Pius came with no mention of an old provenance. However, a c. 1970 round tray tag came with it. It may be ex-Sir Charles Oman, but I haven't confirmed it. The Pius was purchased because I wanted a toned Pius, and it looked to have old-cabinet toning. 3.53g, 19mm Laureate head of Antoninus Pius right "IMP CAES T AEL HADR ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP" "TRANQ" in exergue. "Tranquillitas standing left holdiing rudder and two corn ears."TR POT XIIII COS IIII" RSC 825 (the descriptions are original dealer's descriptions). Also, any clue what British dealer the tag might have come from? The second one came from Forum: Orichalcum sestertius, RIC IV 495 (R), Cohen IV 377, BMCRE VI 575, Hunter III 110, SRCV II 7997, Banti 93, Choice F, well centered, Rome mint, weight 22.368g, maximum diameter 31.8mm, die axis 45o, 229 A.D.; obverse IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG (Latin: Imperator Severus Alexander Augustus - supreme commander, Severus Alexander, emperor), laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse P M TR P VIII COS III P P (Latin: Pontifex Maximus Tribunicia Potestas VIII Consul III Pater Patriae - high priest, holding tribunician power for the 8th time, consul for the 3rd time, father of the fatherland), emperor standing in a triumphal quadriga pacing right, laureate, togate, extending right hand, eagle-tipped scepter and reins in left hand, S C (Latin: senatus consulto - by decree of the Senate) in exergue; ex Numismatic Fine Arts (1993); ex Munzen Und Medaillen (3 Aug 1921); ex Bavarian Collection, c. 1890(?); As I was writing this I realized there were three coins with old provenances: Attribution: RIC IV 217 Antioch [note from me; folks on Numisforums suggested this was from Rome or Milan; it doesnt' look much like the bug-eyed Antioch style to me. Date: AD 251-253 Obverse: IMP C C VIB VOLVSIANVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: FELIC-ITAS PVBL, Felicitas standing left holding long caduceus and cornucopia Size: 22.63mm Weight: 3.23 grams Description: toned nearing VF. Includes old yellowed paper envelope from the coin dealer E. Boudeau, Paris - dating prior to 1912 - with dealer name, coin description and price (1.20 franc, about 24 cents) hand-written in French with an ink pen. Élie Boudeau (1853-1912) was a politician and numismatist in late 19th century-early 20th century Paris. He served in the 5th legislature of the Third French Republic from 12 November 1889 to 14 October 1893. He owned a shop in the numismatic district of Paris at 11 Rue Rameau, only a stones throw from the Bibliotheque Nationale and one block from the Rue Vivienne where several coin shops, including CGB, still exist today.
I'm not sure why the Severus is hanging around at the bottom of the post. I had to copy and paste the image, because the filename was too long for the software, but I also had to on the Volusian, and it's not doubled.
