| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 29 | Auction date: 24 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 2783 Price realized: 35 CHF (Approx. 40 USD / 37 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Anonymous, circa 6th-7th centuries. Medallion (Bronze, 27 mm, 2.34 g). Saint on horseback riding to right, holding cruciform scepter or spear in his right hand; to right, palm frond. Rev. Incuse of obverse. An interesting repoussé medallion. Good very fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005. Without any legend, it is difficult to identify the saint. The scene resembles late Antique iconography of Christ entering Jerusalem, but there are no clear signs that this episode was intended - there are no attendants paving the road with their garments and the mount is clearly not a donkey. On the other hand, images of a Holy Rider were very popular in this period of time, usually depicting the rider in full gallop, spearing a demon with a cruciform spear. The rider on our piece seems to be holding a cruciform spear or scepter as well, and he may well be attributed to the same iconographical tradition. Starting price: 25 CHF |  |
Match 1:
| Astarte S.A. > Web Auction 2 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 272 Price realized: 480 CHF (Approx. 546 USD / 507 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: EGYPT. Antinoöpolis. Circa 2nd-3rd centuries. Tessera (Lead, 25 mm, 7.61 g, 3 h). Antinous (as Hermes) on horseback to right, holding kerykeion in his right hand. Rev. Draped bust of Serapis Pantheos to right, cornucopiae over his left shoulder; to right, serpent-entwined trident. Dattari (Savio) -. Emmett -. D. Wilding: Tokens of Antinous from the Roman Province of Egypt, in: A. Crisà, M. Gkikaki and C. Rowan (eds.): Tokens, Culture, Connections, Communities. London 2019, -. A wonderful example struck on a very broad flan. Good Very Fine. From the Rhakotis Collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s. Ex Leu Web Auction 16, 22-24 May 2021, lot 2653. Starting price: 50 CHF |  |
Match 2:
| Nomos AG > Auction 33 | Auction date: 9 June 2024 |
| Lot number: 1128 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | |
| Lot description: The Jonathan H. Kagan Collection of Ancient Greek Coins MACEDON. Sermyle. Circa 500-470 BC. Tetrobol (Silver, 15 mm, 2.69 g). Warrior, riding horse charging to right, preparing to cast a spear held aloft in his right hand. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III.2, 5. HGC 3.1, 663. Psoma 4. Rosen 110. SNG ANS 726. With a dark patina as found. Some uncleaned deposits as found, otherwise, very fine. From the Collection of Jonathan H. Kagan. Starting price: 250 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 29 | Auction date: 24 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 2781 Price realized: 1,100 CHF (Approx. 1,249 USD / 1,154 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: UNCERTAIN EAST. Levantine region or Egypt, circa 6th-7th century. Amulet (Bronze, 51 mm, 14.37 g, 12 h). ΑΓΙΟC ΑΓΙΟC ΑΓΙΟC K(VPIO)C CABAⲰΘ ΠΗΛΡΗC O OVΡΑИΟC KS Γ, ('Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord of Hosts, heaven and earth are full') Holy Rider galloping right, holding spear in the form of a cross in his right ha, spearing a prostrate female demon; to right, angel advancing right, holding cross in his left hand; to upper left, two stars. Rev. CΦΡΑΓΙC COΛOMOИOC BOHΘH TOV ΦΟΡΟVИΤΗ ΜΗΧΑΙΛ ('Seal of Solomon, help the wearer, Michael') Mount Golgotha (?) surmounted by cross within circle between two torches; to left, radiate bust of the Sun to right, raising his right hand; to upper left, crescent between decorations; to right, bust of the Moon to left, wearing crescent; in lower register, lion running right towards the Evil Eye, which is pierced by spear or arrow; below, prostrate female demon. Cf. T. Matantseva (1994), Les amulettes byzantines contre le Mauvais Oeil du Cabinet des Médailles, in: Jahrbuch für Antike und Christentum 37, p. 110-121, notably plate 14, no. a. (for quotation of the Sanctus) and c. (for basic iconography). A highly fascinating amulet with intriguing iconography. Pierced and with some spots of active corrosion, otherwise, extremely fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005. Through its legends and its iconography, this object can be identified as a magical amulet. It belongs to an eclectic group of late antique amulets showing imagery of the 'Holy Rider' spearing a female demon and the vanquishing of the Evil Eye. The obverse legend is derived from the 'Sanctus', an important hymn that is still used in both Catholic and Orthodox liturgy today. The part of the hymn that appears on our amulet is a quotation from Isaiah 6:3. Interestingly, the engraver ran out of space, resulting in the omission of the latter part ('of thy glory') and only the initial letter appears for 'earth'. 'Holy Rider' imagery, as seen on the obverse, appears on a large and heterogeneous group of mostly haematite, bronze and lead amulets. Their date is debated, but most objects appear to originate between the 5th and 7th centuries. On the gems, the Holy Rider is usually named 'Solomon' in allusion to the late antique tradition of king Solomon as master of demons. It was believed that king Solomon received the 'Seal of God' from the Archangel Michael, a magical ring allowing him to command demons, thus enabling him to build the Temple in Jerusalem. This tradition is also alluded to in the reverse legend of our amulet, in which its 'wearer', named Michael, invokes the 'Seal of Solomon' to protect him. The iconography on the reverse is less straightforward. The identification of the central object on the reverse is not clear, but it might well be mount Golgotha between Sun and Moon. Many of the earliest Crucifixion scenes typically show flanking personifications of the Sun and Moon as well. In the lower register, we see a variation of the vanquishing of the evil eye, a scene that usually appears as the main device on this type of amulet. On our amulet, a small evil eye pierced by a spear or an arrow appears to the right of a running lion, attacking it. Below, the same prostrate demon appears as on the obverse. Evidently, this amulet was meant to protect its wearer from harm, specifically from demons and the evil eye. It is fascinating to see how during the early Byzantine period themes and phrases that were outspokenly Christian were appropriated into the age-old Roman practice of magic. Starting price: 200 CHF |  |
Match 4:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 29 | Auction date: 24 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 2828 Price realized: 35 CHF (Approx. 40 USD / 37 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Anonymous, 12th-14th centuries. Medallion (Bronze, 35 mm, 18.64 g). Facing bust of a bearded military saint (Saint Theodore?), holding transverse spear in his right hand and placing his left on hilt of sword; all within a dotted border. Rev. Blank. Faint scratches, otherwise, very fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005. Starting price: 25 CHF |  |
Match 5:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 29 | Auction date: 24 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 2827 Price realized: 210 CHF (Approx. 238 USD / 220 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Anonymous, 12th-14th centuries. Medallion (Bronze, 40 mm, 40.65 g). Θ / MA/T-Θ/ЄO/C Facing bust of St. Matthew holding scroll in his right hand. Rev. Blank. A very well made and imposing late Byzantine medallion. Good very fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005. Starting price: 75 CHF |  |
