Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 220 | SilverAuction date: 30 June 2024
Lot number: 63

Price realized: 300 EUR   (Approx. 322 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Satraps of Caria. Halikarnassos. Pixodaros 341-336 BC.
Didrachm AR

20 mm, 6,84 g

Laureate head of Apollo facing, head turned slightly to the right, with top of his cloak visible at his neckline / ΠIΞΩΔAΡOΥ, Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding long scepter in his left hand and double-ax over hisshoulder in his right.

Very Fine, darkly toned

BMC 5-7. SNG Copenhagen 596-7. SNG von Aulock 2375-6.

Pixodaros, a Satrap of Caria in ancient Turkey, was the youngest son of Hecatomnus and brother to Maussolos, Idrieus, Artemisia, and Ada. He seized power from his sister Ada around 340 BC. In 336 BC, he proposed a marriage alliance between Macedonian King Philip II's son and his daughter Ada. This proposal was countered by Alexander the Great, causing diplomatic tensions and leading to Alexander's brief exile from the Macedonian court. Pixodaros later married his daughter to Persian noble Orontopates. He died shortly before Alexander's conquest of Asia Minor in 334 BC, after which Caria fell under Alexander's rule, despite initial resistance led by Ada.



Starting price: 200 EUR

Match 1:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 220 | SilverAuction date: 30 June 2024
Lot number: 62

Price realized: 320 EUR   (Approx. 343 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Satraps of Caria. Halikarnassos. Maussolos 377-352 BC.
Drachm AR

15 mm, 3,45 g

Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly to right / ΜΑΥΣΣΩΛΛO, Zeus Labraundos standing to right, holding labrys and spear.

Very Fine

HNO 647 (temporary); SNG Copenhagen 593; SNG Kayhan I 876; SNG Ashmolean 363.

Maussolos was a notable figure in ancient history and the most famous satrap (governor) of Caria, a region in southwestern Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). He ruled Caria from 377 to 353 BC and belonged to the Hecatomnid dynasty, which was a local ruling family under the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Mausolus is best known for his ambitious building projects and the construction of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, a magnificent tomb for himself. The Mausoleum was designed by skilled architects and adorned with impressive sculptures and intricate decorations. After his death in 353 BC, his wife and sister, Artemisia II, completed the construction, and the monument became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.



Starting price: 50 EUR

Match 2:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 209 | SilverAuction date: 28 April 2024
Lot number: 6

Price realized: 460 EUR   (Approx. 493 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Campania. Neapolis circa 300 BC.
Nomos AR

20 mm, 7,20 g

Diademed head of nymph to right; to left, Artemis running right, holding torch; XAPI below / [NEΟΠΟΛITΩN], Man-headed bull walking right; above, Nike flying right, placing wreath on bull's head; MY monogram below.

Very Fine, Toned

HN Italy 579; SNG BN 786.

Neapolis Campania, commonly referred to as Neapolis, was an ancient Greek city located in the region of Campania in southern Italy. The name Neapolis translates to "New City" in Greek, reflecting its foundation as a colony of Cumae in the 6th century BC. Neapolis was strategically situated on the coast of the Bay of Naples, near the base of Mount Vesuvius. Its location facilitated maritime trade and communication with other Greek colonies in Italy and the wider Mediterranean region. The city thrived as a commercial center, benefiting from its access to fertile agricultural land and its proximity to important trade routes.
Throughout its history, Neapolis was influenced by various cultures, including Greek, Etruscan, and Roman. It was known for its vibrant cultural life, which included theater, art, and philosophy. The city also played a significant role in the spread of Greek culture and civilization to Italy and beyond. One of the most famous landmarks of Neapolis was its theater, which was one of the largest in the ancient world. Built during the 4th century BC and later expanded by the Romans, the theater could accommodate thousands of spectators and hosted dramatic performances, musical events, and civic gatherings. Neapolis was also renowned for its contributions to literature and philosophy. The city was the birthplace of several notable figures, including the philosopher and mathematician Philolaus, who was associated with the Pythagorean school of thought. During the Roman period, Neapolis continued to prosper as a center of trade and culture. It became a popular destination for wealthy Romans seeking leisure and entertainment, with luxurious villas and resorts lining the coast. Today, the modern city of Naples occupies the site of ancient Neapolis. Despite centuries of urban development and change, Naples still bears traces of its ancient past, including archaeological remains, historic landmarks, and a rich cultural heritage that reflects its Greek origins.



Starting price: 50 EUR

Match 3:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 229 | SilverAuction date: 25 August 2024
Lot number: 111

Price realized: 500 EUR   (Approx. 556 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Anonymous 225-214 BC. Rome
Didrachm AR

23 mm, 6,53 g

Laureate head of Janus / Jupiter standing in galloping quadriga driven by Victory to right, holding sceptre and reins, brandishing thunderbolt overhead; ROMA incuse on tablet below.

Pleasant tone, Near Extremely Fine

Crawford 28/3; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 78-99; RSC 23.

In the annals of Roman numismatics, long before the establishment of the denarius as the standard silver coinage, the Romans had occasionally issued silver didrachms, beginning around 326/5 B.C. These early silver coins were not part of a continuous series but rather appeared sporadically, their designs reflecting the episodic circumstances under which they were minted. The culmination of these didrachm issues is best exemplified by the quadrigatus, a coinage that stands out as the most substantial and intricate among the early Roman silver series. Unlike the relatively modest outputs of earlier didrachms, the quadrigatus represented Rome's first significant foray into large-scale silver production. It was minted in vast quantities across several mints over a span of approximately thirteen years, commencing around 225 B.C.

Initially, the quadrigati may have been struck in limited numbers, adhering to the precedent set by preceding didrachm issues. However, the scope of production expanded dramatically following Rome's declaration of war against Carthage in the spring of 218 B.C. Although the precise chronology of Roman coinage during the Second Punic War remains uncertain, it is generally accepted that between c.214 and 212 B.C., the denarius replaced the quadrigatus. This transition marked a pivotal shift in Roman monetary policy with far-reaching consequences.

The designs featured on the quadrigatus coinage are particularly noteworthy. The obverse of the coin depicts a Janiform male head, crowned with a laurel wreath. While this dual-faced image is often identified as the god Janus, the youthful, clean-shaven depiction has led many scholars to suggest that it may instead represent the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, presented in an unorthodox manner. Nevertheless, a youthful Janus cannot be entirely ruled out, as earlier Roman didrachms portray other deities, such as Mars, in both mature, bearded forms (Cr. 13/1) and as clean-shaven youths (Cr. 25/1 and 27/1). This diversity in portrayal is paralleled by the varied representations of Heracles on Greek coinage.

On the reverse, the coin bears the inscription ROMA, positioned beneath a dynamic quadriga scene, which gives the quadrigatus its distinctive name, quadrigati nummi, as referenced by Livy in his historical works (xxii.52.2 and xxii.58.4), composed some two centuries later. The scene depicts a chariot driven by Nike, the personification of victory, carrying Jupiter, who brandishes a scepter and raises a thunderbolt, poised to deliver a decisive blow. This imagery not only reinforces the divine favor claimed by Rome but also symbolizes the military prowess and ambitions of the Republic during a crucial period of its expansion



Starting price: 500 EUR

Match 4:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 209 | SilverAuction date: 28 April 2024
Lot number: 146

Price realized: 800 EUR   (Approx. 857 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Cilicia. Tarsos. Datames, Satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia 384-360 BC.
Stater AR

22 mm, 10,52 g

Female head facing slightly left, hair in ampyx, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace / Bearded head right, wearing crested Attic helmet, drapery around neck, TRKMW (in Aramaic) to right.

Good Very Fine

Casabonne Type 1; Moysey Issue 4; SNG France 269; SNG Levante 79.

Datames was a prominent Persian general and satrap during the 4th century BCE. He hailed from the region of Cappadocia in Asia Minor and rose to prominence as a military commander under the Achaemenid Empire. Datames is best known for his military campaigns and his efforts to assert his autonomy from the Persian central authority. Despite being a loyal servant of the Achaemenid kings, he sought greater independence for his own satrapy. He was skilled in warfare and known for his strategic prowess. One of Datames' notable achievements was his successful defense of Cappadocia against the incursions of the Macedonian king, Alexander the Great. However, Datames eventually fell out of favor with the Persian king Artaxerxes II due to his aspirations for greater autonomy. Artaxerxes ordered his assassination, and Datames was betrayed and killed by one of his own officers. Datames' story is significant because it reflects the complex political landscape of the Achaemenid Empire and the challenges faced by regional satraps in balancing loyalty to the central authority with their own ambitions for power and autonomy.



Starting price: 500 EUR

Match 5:
Nomos AG > Auction 32Auction date: 8 June 2024
Lot number: 76

Price realized: 2,400 CHF   (Approx. 2,677 USD / 2,475 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


The Anthony Milavic Collection of Ancient Games Coins

Equestrian Events

Kalpé and Anabates

IONIA. Erythrai. Circa 500-480 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 17 mm, 6.87 g). Nude ephebe riding horse galloping to right, holding the reins with his left hand and resting his right on the horse's back. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. De Nanteuil 594 (this coin. Jameson 2269 (same reverse die). Rosen 573 (same reverse die). SNG Copenhagen 554 (same reverse die). SNG Lockett 2814 (same dies). SNG von Aulock 1943 (same reverse die). Nicely toned. Slightly porous, otherwise, good very fine.

From the collection of Major USMC Ret. Anthony Milavic, ex Leu Numismatics 54, 28 April 1992, 131 and Bank Leu 33, 3 May 1983, 376, from the collection of H. de Nanteuil and from the Çesme Hoard of 1923 (IGCH 1184).

Here we see a jockey preparing to jump from his horse as it runs to right: he has already moved his left hand, holding the reins, to the right side of the horse's neck, and has moved his right to a position on the horse's back to help him move his left leg over the horse's back.

Starting price: 2000 CHF