Printed Auction 43

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  8. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    "Venus of the beautiful buttocks"
    A43, Lot 128:

    Julia Titi. Augusta, A.D. 79-90/1. AR denarius. 3.3 gm. 19 mm. Rome mint. Struck under Titus, A.D. 80-81. Her draped bust right, wearing stephane, hair in long plait at back; IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F / Venus standing right, seen half from behind, naked except for drapery around hips, resting elbow on column, holding helmet and transverse spear; VENVS AVGVST. RIC II.1 388. RSC 14. Near Very Fine; attractive old tone. Rare.

    Ex Russell C. Hollingsworth Collection (CNG XXXIV, 6 May 1995, lot 312).

     

    Julia Titi, daughter of the emperor Titus who helped conquer Judaea and in 70 A.D. looted and destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem, was known for her hot temper and wild nature. After her husband’s death she had a scandalous affair with her uncle, the emperor Domitian.

    In A.D. 79 Vespasian died and Titus became sole emperor. One of his first official acts was to raise his daughter Julia to the rank of Augusta, or Empress, the first woman in more than a decade to hold that exalted position. He struck this lovely coin for the occasion. Julia thus became the first reigning Roman empress to be honored with a regular issue of Roman coins struck solely in her own name.

    Venus on the reverse is probably modeled after the late First Century B.C. Roman marble statue "Aphrodite Kallipygos (Callipygian Venus)," which itself is thought to be a copy of an older Greek statue and literally means "Venus (Aphrodite) of the beautiful buttocks.”
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  9. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    Extremely Rare - Titus's daughter
    A43, Lot 129:

    Julia Titi. Augusta, A.D. 79-90/1. Æ dupondius. 12.54 gm. 27.5 mm. Uncertain Balkan mint. Struck under Titus, circa A.D. 80-81. Her draped bust right; IVLIA IMP T AVG F AVGVSTA / Ceres standing left, holding scepter and two grain ears; CERES AVGVST S C. RIC II.1 514 pl. 116 (same dies). RPC II 509 (7 examples). H. Cahn, "An Imperial Mint in Bithynia," INJ 8 (1984-5), 9. BMCRE 255. BN 266 (Titus). Cohen 2. Very Fine; attractive green and brown patina; small area of pitting at top of head on obverse, old and fully patinated; attractive portrait; well centered and pleasing. Extremely rare.

    Ex Harlan Berk BBS 165 (28 July 2009) lot 454. ("The letter forms, particularly the long serifs, show that this coin belongs to the auxiliary mint for bronzes in Thrace, possibly situated at Perinthus.")

     

    Julia Titi is the daughter of the emperor Titus, who served under his father Vespasian in Judea during the First Jewish-Roman War, commanding a Roman legion that captured and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 C.E. As emperor for just two years, he is best known for completing the Colosseum and for his generosity relieving suffering caused by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and a fire in Rome in 80. His daughter was known for her hot temper and wild nature. After her husband’s death she had a scandalous affair with her uncle, the emperor Domitian. In A.D. 79 when Vespasian died and Titus became sole emperor, one of his first official acts was to raise his daughter Julia to the rank of Augusta, or Empress, the first woman in more than a decade to hold that exalted position.

    This rare provincial bronze presents a lovely portrait of the elusive Empress, her strong features suggesting an almost uncanny resemblance to her father.
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  11. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    A43, Lot 131:

    Hadrian. A.D. 117-138. AR denarius. 3.15 gm. 17.5 mm. Rome mint. Struck A.D. 128-circa 129. His laureate head right; HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P / Seven pointed star within large crescent; COS III. RIC II.3 924 (RIC II 355). RSC 458. Very Fine; attractive gray tone with iridescence; well centered; porosity. Scarce.

    Hadrian was one of "the most capable emperors who ever occupied the throne and he devoted his whole life to the improvement of the state. His rule was firm and humane and he was also a patron of the arts." (David Sear) He was a philosopher who is renowned for his "Meditations" and inspired Marguerite Yourcenar's "Memoirs of Hadrian." Known as the third of "The Five Good Emperors," Hadrian was a humanist who aspired to create a civil society across the Empire based on Greek philosophical ideals. Throughout his reign he was a patron of the arts, especially invested in architecture and the construction of many beautiful buildings. He spent much of his reign traveling throughout the Empire, dispensing generous handouts to construct new public buildings, projects and settlements. His policy was to strengthen the Empire from within by improving infrastructure, rather than waging wars and conquering enemies without. This policy is clearly seen in Britannia, where in response to a major rebellion, in 122 C.E. he began the construction of Hadrian's Wall to prevent repeat invasions from the fierce tribes inhabiting the harsh terrain and highlands of Caledonia (modern day Scotland) to the north. Today the ruins of Hadrian's Wall still span many miles across the English countryside.​​​​​​​
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  12. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    Exceptional artistic dies
    A43, Lot 132:

    Hadrian. A.D. 117-138. AR denarius. 3.16 gm. 17 mm. Rome mint. Struck circa A.D. 130. His laureate head right; HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P / Romulus, wearing military attire, advancing right, holding trophy over shoulder and spear; ROMVLO CONDITORI. RIC II.3 1424 (RIC II 266). RSC 1316. Near Extremely Fine; beautiful gray tone with underlying iridescence highlighting design; some light marks, fully toned. Well struck from artistic dies. Exceptional piece.

    Ex Pegasi BBS 128 (2003) lot 289.

    Hadrian was one of "the most capable emperors who ever occupied the throne and he devoted his whole life to the improvement of the state. His rule was firm and humane and he was also a patron of the arts." (David Sear) He was a philosopher who is renowned for his "Meditations" and inspired Marguerite Yourcenar's "Memoirs of Hadrian." Known as the third of "The Five Good Emperors," Hadrian was a humanist who aspired to create a civil society across the Empire based on Greek philosophical ideals. Throughout his reign he was a patron of the arts, especially invested in architecture and the construction of many beautiful buildings. He spent much of his reign traveling throughout the Empire, dispensing generous handouts to construct new public buildings, projects and settlements. His policy was to strengthen the Empire from within by improving infrastructure, rather than waging wars and conquering enemies without. This policy is clearly seen in Britannia, where in response to a major rebellion, in 122 C.E. he began the construction of Hadrian's Wall to prevent repeat invasions from the fierce tribes inhabiting the harsh terrain and highlands of Caledonia (modern day Scotland) to the north. Today the ruins of Hadrian's Wall still span many miles across the English countryside.
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  13. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    Hadrian's Travel Series
    A43, Lot 133:

    Hadrian. A.D. 117-138. AR denarius. 3.31 gm. 18 mm. Travel series. Rome mint. Struck circa A.D. 130-133. His bare head right; HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P / Asia standing left, foot on prow, holding reaping hook and rudder; ASIA. RIC II.3 1507 (RIC II 301). RSC 188. Very Fine+; beautiful old minty tone with slight blue iridescence. Attractive coin.

    Hadrian was one of "the most capable emperors who ever occupied the throne and he devoted his whole life to the improvement of the state. His rule was firm and humane and he was also a patron of the arts." (David Sear) He was a philosopher who is renowned for his "Meditations" and inspired Marguerite Yourcenar's "Memoirs of Hadrian." Known as the third of "The Five Good Emperors," Hadrian was a humanist who aspired to create a civil society across the Empire based on Greek philosophical ideals. Throughout his reign he was a patron of the arts, especially invested in architecture and the construction of many beautiful buildings. He spent much of his reign traveling throughout the Empire, dispensing generous handouts to construct new public buildings, projects and settlements. His policy was to strengthen the Empire from within by improving infrastructure, rather than waging wars and conquering enemies without. This policy is clearly seen in Britannia, where in response to a major rebellion, in 122 C.E. he began the construction of Hadrian's Wall to prevent repeat invasions from the fierce tribes inhabiting the harsh terrain and highlands of Caledonia (modern day Scotland) to the north. Today the ruins of Hadrian's Wall still span many miles across the English countryside.
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  14. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  

    Hadrian's Travel Series

    A43, Lot 134:

    Hadrian. A.D. 117-138. Orichalcum sestertius. 26.45 gm. 31 mm. 'Travel series' issue ('Provinces cycle'). Rome mint. Struck A.D. 130-138. His bareheaded and draped bust right; HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P / Hadrian standing left, holding volumen and raising up kneeling Hispania who shoulders olive branch; rabbit between them; RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE around, S C in exergue. RIC II.3 1866. RIC II 954. Near Very Fine; bold portrait; brown patina; cleaning marks below bust; old marks on Hadrian's bust, with a few similar marks on reverse (a contemporary political statement/damnatio memoriae?). Pleasing example. Scarce.

    From a collection of high quality ancient coins formed in the American Midwest in the 1950s, carefully sourced from Spink & Son in London, NFA (Edward Gans) in NYC, and Earle Stanton in LA., among others.

    Hadrian was one of "the most capable emperors who ever occupied the throne and he devoted his whole life to the improvement of the state. His rule was firm and humane and he was also a patron of the arts." (David Sear) He was a philosopher who is renowned for his "Meditations" and inspired Marguerite Yourcenar's "Memoirs of Hadrian." Known as the third of "The Five Good Emperors," Hadrian was a humanist who aspired to create a civil society across the Empire based on Greek philosophical ideals. Throughout his reign he was a patron of the arts, especially invested in architecture and the construction of many beautiful buildings. He spent much of his reign traveling throughout the Empire, dispensing generous handouts to construct new public buildings, projects and settlements. His policy was to strengthen the Empire from within by improving infrastructure, rather than waging wars and conquering enemies without. This policy is clearly seen in Britannia, where in response to a major rebellion, in 122 C.E. he began the construction of Hadrian's Wall to prevent repeat invasions from the fierce tribes inhabiting the harsh terrain and highlands of Caledonia (modern day Scotland) to the north. Today the ruins of Hadrian's Wall still span many miles across the English countryside.
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  24. Winning Losing Won Lost Watching Available in aftersale  
    Sacred stone of Emesa
    A43, Lot 144:

    Elagabalus. A.D. 218-222. AR denarius. 3.18 gm. 19 mm. Uncertain eastern mint. Struck A.D. 218-219. His laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG / Slow quadriga right, bearing the sacred stone of Emesa on which is an eagle, surrounded by four parasols; SANCT DEO SOLI around, ELAGABAL in exergue. RIC IV.2 195 (R2). RSC 268. Good Very Fine; crisp and attractive with good surfaces and slightly lustrous tone. Rare.

    Ex Harlan Berk BBS 139 (4 August 2004) lot 339.

    Elagabalus was 14 years old when he inherited the role of high priest of the sun god El-Gabal at Emesa in Syria. Following his unlikely rise to power in A.D. 218 he brought the cult's baetyl (a sacred conical cult stone, likely a meteorite) with him to Rome. Dedicated to spreading his cult among the Romans, he would make senators watch as he danced around the altar to drums and cymbals. He had some success, and the Syrian deity combined with the Roman sun god Sol to be known as Sol Invictus ("the unconquered sun").

    At the summer solstice he would parade the stone through the city: "a six horse chariot carried the divinity, the horses huge and flawlessly white, with expensive gold fittings and rich ornaments. No one held the reins, and no one rode in the chariot; the vehicle was escorted as if the god himself were the charioteer. Elagabalus ran backward in front of the chariot, facing the god and holding the horses' reins. He made the whole journey in this reverse fashion, looking up into the face of his god" (Herodian). That chariot, complete with baetyl, is depicted on the reverse of this piece.
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