| Astarte S.A. > Auction 23 | Auction date: 28 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 281 Price realized: 320 CHF (Approx. 369 USD / 341 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Egypt. Alexandria. Galba, 68-69. Tetradrachm (Billon, 24.55 mm, 11.63 g). Dated RY 1 (= 68). ΛΟΥΚ ΛΙΒ ΣΟ[ΥΛΠ ΓΑΛΒΑ ΚΑΙ]Σ ΣΕB [ΑΥT] Laureate head of Galba to right; L A (date) in right field below chin. Rev. ΕΛΕΥ-ΘTΕΡΙΑ Eleutheria standing front, head to left, holding wreath in her right hand and resting her right arm on column, scepter behind. Vogt I, pp. 37-41. Vogt II, p. 12. BMC 192. K&G 17.4. Dattari 306 (this coin). Geissen 220. RPC I, 5327. Emmett 172. Savio, Adriano, Tetradrammi Alessandrini, Milano 2007, pp. 57-59. Extremely Fine. Ex Giovanni Dattari collection 306. Ex Naville Numismatics 43, 23 September 2018, lot 252. Selected coin from the famous collection of Giovanni Dattari. Very rare for the limited period of issue and in particularly fine condition; notably the portrait of the emperor has begun to take on the real and characteristic physiognomy of Galba. Starting price: 250 CHF |  |
Match 1:
| Astarte S.A. > Auction 23 | Auction date: 28 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 443 Price realized: 240 CHF (Approx. 277 USD / 256 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Egypt. Alexandria. Commodus, 177-192. Tetradrachm (Billon, 24.4 mm, 11.40 g). Dated RY 30 of Marcus Aurelius (= 189/90) Μ Α ΚΟΜ ΑΝΤω ϹЄΒ ЄΥϹЄΒ Laureate head of Commodus right. Rev. Elpis draped advancing left with the left leg forward, raising her skirt with the left hand in apotropaic gesture and holding flower in the right hand, L Λ (date) across field. Dattari-Savio 3864. RPC IV.4, 3549. Geissen 2246. Milne 2690. Emmett 2525. Nicely toned, with a splendid portrait. Nearly Extremely fine. Ex Leu Numismatik AG 11, 22-23 february 2020, lot 1553. Here we have the first of two tetradrachms by Commodus (189-190 AD) of the same type but of different coinage and style. This is of wide size, well centred and with a pleasant portrait of the emperor. On the meaning of Elpis = Peace on the reverse, see the commentary on the next coin no. 187 in the collection. Starting price: 70 CHF |  |
Match 2:
| Astarte S.A. > Auction 23 | Auction date: 28 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 438 Price realized: 85 CHF (Approx. 98 USD / 91 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Egypt. Alexandria. Commodus, 177-192. Tetradrachm (Billon, 23.8 mm, 11.79 g). Dated RY 21 of Marcus Aurelius (= 180/1). Μ ΑΥΡΗ ΚΟΜ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟC [CЄ] Laureate head of Commodus to right. Rev. Commodus on horseback to right, preparing to spear fallen foe; L Κ [Α] (date) around. Dattari-Savio 3851 & 9556-7. RPC IV.4, 3377. Geissen 2203. Emmett 2534. Cf. SAVIO A., Tetradrammi alessandrini, pp. 93-97. Dark brown patina. Flan crack, otherwise, Very fine. Rare. Ex Leu Numismatik AG 11, 22-23 Febuary 2020, lot 1550. Let us turn to Commodus, the last and unlamented member of the Antonine dynasty, who counts his reigning years from the beginning of those of his father Marcus Aurelius. Commodus minted tetradrachms almost in bronze, since silver had practically disappeared. On the reverse we see the emperor in military dress brandishing a spear on a galloping horse: his identification is uncertain. We are in his first year of reign (180 -181 AD) and Commodus presents himself in victorious and triumphant form. Starting price: 60 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Astarte S.A. > Auction 23 | Auction date: 28 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 273 Price realized: 950 CHF (Approx. 1,097 USD / 1,013 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Egypt. Alexandria. Nero, 54-68. Tetradrachm (Billon, 24.55 mm, 12.07 g). Dated RY 4 (= 57/8). [ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΛΑΥ] ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡ ΑΥΤΟ Laureate head of Nero right. Rev. ΔΗΜΟΣ ΡΩ vertical to left, ΜΑΙΩΝ vertical to right; Demos standing facing bare chest, head turned to right, holding scepter in the right hand and cornucopia on the left hand, L Δ (date) to right. Vogt I, p. 26 and following. Vogt II, p. 8. BMC -. Dattari-Savio 212. Geissen 130. RPC I, 5224. Emmett 116. Savio, Adriano, Tetradrammi alessandrini, Milano 2007 , pp. 51-56. K&G 14.16. Very Fine/Extremely Fine. Ex Giovanni Dattari collection 212. Ex Naville Numismatics 55, 09.02.2020, lot 286. The depiction on the reverse of the Genius Populi Romani is a clear indication of Nero's Roman-centric policy, despite his sympathies for classical culture, which ooze as much from the coinage of the eastern regions of the empire as from his promotion and patronage of the Panhellenic games referred to in NN. 18 - 20 of the collection. Starting price: 150 CHF |  |
Match 4:
| Astarte S.A. > Auction 23 | Auction date: 28 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 275 Price realized: 150 CHF (Approx. 173 USD / 160 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Egypt. Alexandria. Nero, 54-68. Tetradrachm (Billon, 25.20 mm, 11.71 g). Dated RY 14 (= 67/8). ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑY ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕB [Γ]ΕΡ A[Y] Radiate bust of Nero to left, wearing aegis; L IΔ (date) in left field. Rev. ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ ΙΣΘ[ΜΙΟΣ] Bust of Poseidon Isthmios to right, wearing taenia, with slight drapery on his left shoulder and with trident over his shoulder. Vogt I, pp. 32-36. Vogt II, p. 11. BMC - . Dattari 243. Geissen 202. RPC I, 5310. Emmett 129. Savio, Adriano, Tetradrammi alessandrini, Milano 2007, pp. 52-56. K&G 14.113. Extremely Fine/Very Fine. Ex Auctiones AG, 26, 16/19.09.1996, lot 366. A rare coin that recalls the Neronian series from the 13th and 14th years of his reign (AD 66-68), dedicated to the propaganda for the Panhellenic Games promoted by the Emperor, defined by organising cities according to the deities of reference: the Isthmian ones (Corinth) through Poseidon, then the Olympian and Nemean ones with Zeus; the Argivian ones with Hera, the Attic and Pythian ones with Apollo. And the presence of the sovereign was planned for each of them, but very few could be realised because they were interrupted by Nero's bloody death in June 68 AD. Starting price: 150 CHF |  |
Match 5:
| Astarte S.A. > Auction 23 | Auction date: 28 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 488 Price realized: 60 CHF (Approx. 69 USD / 64 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Egypt. Alexandria. Gallienus, 253-268. Tetradrachm (Billon, 21.5 mm, 11.06 g). Dated RY 1 (= 253/4). Α Κ Π ΛΙ ΟΥ ΓΑΛΛΙHΝΟC CЄB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Elpis advancing left, holding flower and lifting hem of skirt; L A (date) across field. Geissen 2881-2. Dattari-Savio 5198. Emmett 3732. Kellner p. 130, pl. 14, Abb. 17 (this coin). Dark brown patina with traces of red, light porosity. Very Fine. Ex A. K. Collection purchased privately by A. K from Münzen und Medaillen AG, 1970 = Ex CNG 463, 11 March 2020, lot 276. Tetradrachm of splendid preservation, marking the accession to the throne of Gallienus (year 1 = 253-254 A.D.) together with his father Valerianus I. It shows a juvenile portrait of the sovereign on the obverse and on the reverse, Elpis, a smart personification of Hope, distinguished by the flower she is holding in her right hand: hope for a long reign of the new dynasty, which lasted 15 years but ended tragically. Starting price: 60 CHF |  |
