WTS: JA's Black Saturday Sale - More Ancient Coins! Ptolemiac, Bactrian, Parthian, Roman Provinces...

Hello friends, here is a selection of excellent coins at prices well below retail. Please PM me if interested. Payment can be by paypal, or postal money order, or Transferwise. Shipping is $4 for First Class parcel in the US, insurance optional, international shipping is whatever the PO charges me. Cheers and happy collecting! J

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1. SOLD
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2. Menander I Soter was an Indo-Greek King of the Indo-Greek Kingdom (165/[3]/155[3] –130 BC) who administered a large empire in the Northwestern regions of South Asia from his capital at Sagala. Menander is noted for having become a patron of Buddhism. Read more of his history at wiki here.

There are a number of different bust types on the coins of Menander. This one has him wearing a helmet described as Boeotian, but a true Boeotian helmet has a rim that covers the face, so perhaps this version is stylized for the sake of showing the king’s visage. It looks like a plumed safari hat! A drachm of this quality would cost you over $125 at vcoins, see here. Phenomenal strike and surfaces. $89



KINGS OF BAKTRIA. Menander,‭ ‬c.‭ ‬155-130‭ ‬BC.‭
‬AR drachm,‭ ‬20mm,‭ ‬2.4g,‭ ‬12h.‭
‬Obv.:‭ ‬BΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOΣ‭; ‬Helmeted,‭ ‬draped bust right.‭
‬Rev.:‭ ‬In Kharosthi:‭ ‬MAHARAJASA RAJARAJASA MAHATASA AYASA‭; ‬Athena Alkidemos advancing left left,‭ ‬holding shield and thunderbolt,‭ ‬monogram to right.‭
‬Reference:‭ ‬Bop‭ ‬16A,‭ ‬SNG ANS‭ ‬854-865.
From the Eng Collection.

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3. Make way for the king! The majestic, most august, his grandiose eminence, revered among the four corners of the earth, all hail his highborn name: Unknown I. Some commentators call him Scarface, though, for the cut which consistently appears on his left cheek.

The history of the Kingdom of Persis is surrounded by shadows and contradictory hypotheses but, according to the most recent analysis, this state appeared under Seleucos I's reign (305-281 BCE), when Persis and the whole Middle East were under Seleucid control. Seleucos seems to have formed an alliance with a local Persian dynasty, which gained substantial power in Persis. Persis rulers took the title of frataraka, “keeper of the fire,” equivalent to a sub-satrap title. Their power in Persis was completed by the presence of a Seleucid satrap of Persis, leading to a relationship of coexistence but the precise details of this situation are not fully understood in the modern day. - Read more here

The strike on this drachm is absolutely incredible, and it shows no circulation wear that I can discern. The surfaces are immaculately clean and smooth, and the coin has abundant luster. I suspect this specimen has resided in collections since the day it was minted - it looks like it just came off the dies. I particularly like that the obverse is struck so that the eagle ornament on the king’s headdress is clearly seen. Examples in this condition hammer for over $300 before fees. $225 (reduced from $275)



PERSIS. Unknown King I
AR Drachm, 15mm, 4.1g, 9h; 2nd Century BC.
Obv.: Head right in kyrbasia headdress, tied with diadem.
Rev.: Fire temple with attendant and eagle on column to sides.
Reference: Alram 551

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4. If you like large Greek silver struck in high relief, satisfying to both the eye and hand, but don’t want to break the bank, you’re looking for a tetradrachm of Thasos. Thasos is the northernmost island of Greece, renowned in antiquity for its gold mines, wine, nuts, and marble. Dionysos is of course the god of wine, ritual madness and fertility (aka the god of frat parties). The cult of Herakles had a huge following on the island. and on this coin, the hero is proudly posing for his picture after defeating the Nemean lion - club and lion skin in hand. The inscription proclaims him the savior of Thasos.

As a type, these tets are curiously uneven in style and strike, see vcoins here (ignore the Celtic imitations). They seem to have been produced hastily, in large quantities. This example is well-centered and struck with excellent style, in a solid VF grade. As you can see by the link, you’d pay a lot more for a coin this lovely at full retail. $200 (reduced from $225)



ISLANDS OFF THRACE. Thasos.
AR Tetradrachm, 32mm, 16.6g, 12h; after 146 BC.
Obv.: Wreathed head of young Dionysos.
Rev.: HPAKΛEOVΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ ΘΑΣIΩN; Herakles standing left, holding club and lion's skin; MT monogram to inner left.
Reference: Le Rider 52; SNG Copenhagen 1040.
From the Eng Collection

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5. SOLD

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6. SOLD

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7. After he murdered his father with the help of his brother Mithridates, Orodes II ruled the Parthian Empire from 57 to 37 BC. He eventually defeated and killed his brother as well, resisted Crassus’ attempt at eastern expansion, and side-stepped a dynastic war with his own son, Pacorus. During the RR civil wars, the Parthians sided first with Pompey, then with Brutus and Cassius, and eventually restored their territory to the extent of the Achaemenids. This, however, did not last. Pacorus was killed in a Roman counterattack and Orodes, sensing the end of his days, appointed Phraates IV as his heir. Phraates, impatient for his turn, took matters into his own hands and assassinated Orodes. They all died happily ever after. The End.

Here’s a really great drachm with super detail and centering, and wonderful gray toning. Compare to others here. $58



KINGS OF PARTHIA, Orodes II, c. 57-38 BC.
AR Drachm, 20mm, 3.5g, 12h; Susa mint.
Obv.: Diademed and draped bust left, wearing medium beard.
Rev.: Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; monogram below bow.
Reference: Sellwood 45.20.
From the Eng Collection

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8. Here is Nero on a coin of Laodicea ad Lycum, Phrygia. This is the very scarce Homonoia with Smyrna type, in which the demoi, or protector gods of the two cities are seen clasping hands. It may refer to a specific historical event - a conciliation or contract perhaps, maybe a trade agreement. Unfortunately we have no specifics as to what the event may have been.

Here’s a very nice example of the type with abundant detail and clear lettering. Compare to a few at CNG here. None available at vcoins at the moment, but here’s one that sold for $190. $110



Nero,‭ ‬AD‭ ‬54-68.‭ ‬Anto Zenon,‭ ‬son of Zenon, magistrate.‭
‬Æ26,‭ ‬10.3g,‭ ‬6h. PHRYGIA.‭ ‬Laodicea ad Lycum.
Obv.:‭ ‬NEPON ΣEBAΣTOΣ‭; ‬Laureate head right.‭ ‬
Rev.:‭ ‬ANTΩ ZHNΩNOΣ ZHNΩN‭ ‬YIOΣ ΛAOΔIKEΩN ZMYPNAIΩN OMHPOΣ‭; ‬The Demoi of Laodicea and Smyrna clasping hands; each holds scepter, each wears chiton and himation.
Reference:‭ ‬RPC I‭ ‬2928.‭

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9. SOLD

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10. Remus and Romulus were abandoned at birth, in the manner of various mythological heroes, because of a prophesy that they would overthrow their great-uncle Amulius. They were suckled by a she-wolf until rescued by a shepherd named Faustulus, who adopted them as his sons. They went on to found Rome, but after a quarrel, Romulus killed his brother. Well, it wouldn’t be a good Roman story with fratricide, right? That’s the Reader’s Digest version anyway - here’s the wiki link for more.

The she-wolf and twins design is found most often on the late Roman bronze VRBS ROMA commemorative series. It occurs occasionally on other imperial coins, and less often on republic and provincial issues. Here is an instance of a scarce provincial type from a scarce emperor, Macrinus. The coin has rough surfaces, but abundant detail and a solid, midnight-black patina. A rugged beauty! Here are some very pricey examples at vcoins, and more at CNG. $145



Macrinus.‭ ‬A.D.‭ ‬217-218.‭ ‬
Æ28,‭ ‬14.6g,‭ ‬6h. Syria,‭ ‬Seleucis and Pieria.‭ ‬Laodicea ad Mare.
Obv.:‭ ‬IMP C M OP S-EVE MACRINOS AVG‭; ‬Laureate head right.‭ ‬
Rev.:‭ ‬ROMAE above,‭ ‬FEL in exergue,‭ ‬she-wolf standing right,‭ ‬head turned to look back at the suckling twins,‭ ‬Romulus and Remus.‭
Reference:‭ ‬BMC‭ ‬97-98‭

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11. Here is Maximinus II Daia on a follis of Antioch with fantastic detail, style, and silvering! I hate to use the word “uncirculated” when speaking of ancient coins, but I don't think this specimen ever changed hands in commerce. Serapis was an Egyptian deity that became wildly popular in mainstream Roman religion. There are two of these types from Antioch at vcoins, here, but neither of them are as spectacular as this coin. $58



Maximinus II, AD 310-313.
Æ Follis, 21mm, 4.9g, 12h; Antioch, AD
Obv.: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
Rev.: GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing facing, head left, chlamys over left shoulder, holding head of Serapis in right hand, cradling cornucopia in left arm; * / H //ANT
Reference: RIC VI
From the Eng Collection

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12. Hormazd IV was a king of the Sasanian Empire from AD 579-590. It is said that he was imperious and violent, but refused to persecute Christians on the grounds of fostering goodwill from all religious groups within the empire's citizenry. This led to strong opposition from the ruling classes and Hormazd ended up executing over 13,000 nobles to secure his power. One can only foster goodwill from religious groups if said groups are willing to peaceably coexist. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

These drachms were not as well-produced as other Sasanian issues, and this example represents one of the better specimens of the type, and at a nice price. Compare to vcoins here. $48 (reduced from $58)



SASANIAN KINGS of PERSIA, Hormazd IV, AD 579-590.
AR Drachm, 30mm, 3.9g, 4h; GO mint. Uncertain date.
Obv.: Crowned bust right.
Rev.: Fire altar flanked by attendants; star and crescent above.
Reference: Göbl I/1.
From the Aethelred Collection