ANCIENT COINS IN ROBINSON AUCTION #109

Dealer Frank S. Robinson will conduct his 109th mail and internet auction of Ancient and Early Coins with a closing date of July 16. The sale will include 506 lots, with low minimum bids, and bids to be reduced as competition permits. Robinson notes that reductions have averaged 15-25% in his recent sales. There is no buyer fee.

Noteworthy among Greek coins in the sale are a classic Athenian "Owl" Tetradrachm in Choice EF, two rare early Elymais silver tetradrachms; an AEF Aesillas Tetradrachm; a Metapontum double stater in VF; a rare Persis Tetradrachm of Autophradates II in EF; and good run of Parthian coins.

Roman highlights include a high grade Sestertius of Nero Claudius Drusus; an EF Caligula As; Denarii of Galba and Vitellius both grading AEF/VF; a VF Paulina denarius; a VF Egyptian Tetradrachm of Macrianus; a Vabalathus antoninianus grading Choice EF, virtually as struck; and a Galerius argenteus in Choice EF+.

The auction also includes Byzantine and other early coinages, group lots, literature, and a section of items offered at fixed prices

Robinson holds about three such sales annually, and tries to offer a broad range of material for advanced collectors as well as bargain hunters. Catalogs are free; contact Robinson at Box 8600A, Albany, NY 12208; phone/fax 518-482-2639; e-mail frank@fsrcoin.com. The full catalog will be at his website, www.fsrcoin.com.

Lot 115: PERSIS, Autophradates (Vadfradad) II

PERSIS, Autophradates (Vadfradad) II, 2nd cent BC, Tet, Head r wearing kyrbasia & diadem/

Fire temple betw king & standard, above half-figure of Ahura-Mazda; S6193, Alram 546;

EF, sl off-ctr, minor crudeness, good high-relief portrait, excellent metal with luster. Ex Triskeles as EF.

Four Persis kings struck Tetradrachms, all fairly rare, but this is actually much the rarest.

(GVFs brought $10,200, CNG 9/17; $7794, Leu 5/18.) Starting Bid $1800

Lot 130: SYRACUSE, Hemilitron

SYRACUSE, Æ16, Hemilitron, 410-405 BC, Arethusa head l, dolphin behind, engraver signature Phi-RY at back of sphendome/Wheel, dolphins in lower quarters, S1186;

AEF, obv nrly centered, rev somewhat off-ctr with sl roughness; dark greenish patina; good detail on head.

Rare with signed obv die, and on this example the signature is unusually clear.

(An EF of the type, no signature, with encrustation, brought $1982, Roma 4/14; GVF, sl off-ctr, $863, CNG eAuc 5/15.)

Lot 148: THASOS, Stater

148 THASOS, Stater, 510-480 BC, ithyphallic satyr carrying struggling nymph

4-part square; S1746 (£425); Choice VF, well centered & struck, excellent archaic style in high relief.

Light mattelike tone. The all-important thing between satyr's legs is unusually clear. (A VF realized $4500, Peus 10/07.) Starting Bid $260

Lot 150: Tet Dionysos Head

150 Tet, after 148 BC, Dionysos hd r/Herakles stg l, M mono-gram, Choice AEF, well centered on broad flan, style perhaps just beginning to be Celticized; excellent fresh metal with lt tone. Very nice.

(A GVF brought $1250, Davisson 11/12; NEF $6325 (yes), F&S 1/11.) Starting Bid $200

Lot 196: CALIGULA, As, VESTA

196 CALIGULA, As, VESTA std l; Choice EF, centered, full sharp lgnds, dark green patina with paler green hilighting; only a trace of roughness on rev; superb portrait with exceptionally strong hair detail.

(Compare a GVF bringing $2000, Davisson 2/16; EF $9200, Triton 1/07.) Starting Bid $750

Lot 252: PLAUTILLA, Den, VENVS VICTRIX

252 PLAUTILLA, Den, VENVS VICTRIX, Venus stg l, with shield decorated with wolf & twins (rare variety); small figure of Cupid; F-VF, centered, decent metal with lt tone, Venus head flatly struck, otherwise bold.

The design on shield unusually clear. My noticing it epitomizes the fun of the ancient coin game!

(An F-VF, no shield design, brought $67 on $81 bid in my 1/10 sale.) Starting Bid $40

Lot 438: PAPAL Medal Innocent XIII

438 PAPAL, Medal 1721, Innocent XIII accession, by Hamerani, 32 mm, Crowned bust r/ St. Michael drives Devil in seroent form out of Heaven; Choice VF-EF, rich lustery chocolate brown surfaces.

Appears to me original. Start Bid $20

Lot 478: Bitcoin

478 Bitcoin. Value peaked over $20,000; now almost $4000. But for that you don't even actually get a coin.

In my auction you do: 40 mm, golden brass, dated 2018, CH BU. Start Bid $1

Lot 509: CELTIC Ring Money [Fixed Price]

509 CELTIC, Ring Money, BC, group of 5 varied sizes, generally with green patinas, each group for 16.95

To read the complete sale catalog online, see:
http://www.fsrcoin.com/a.html

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