NAC: AUCTIONS 164 AND 165

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 18, 2026, Article 21

Numismatica Ars Classica will be hosting Auctions 164 and 165 on May 26. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett

C. Coelius Caldus. Denarius 51, AR 19 mm, 4 .00 g. C·COEL·CALDVS Head of C. Coelius Caldus r.; in l. field, standard inscribed HIS; in r. field, standard in the form of a boar. Rev. Tablet inscribed L·CALDVS/VII·VIR·EPVL, behind which figure prepares epulum; on either side of tablet, a trophy. In outer l. field, C. CALDVS, in outer r. field, IMP·A·X. In exergue, CALDVS·IIIVIR. Babelon Coelia 7. Sydenham 894. RBW 1551. Crawford 437/2a.
Rare and in exceptional condition, possibly the finest specimen in private hands.
Light iridescent tone, almost invisible mark on reverse field,
otherwise virtually as struck and almost Fdc

The moneyer C. Coelius Caldus, Quaestor 50 B.C., portrays his ancestor C. Caelius Caldus, Cos. 94 B.C.

C. Iulius Caesar with M. Mettius. Denarius mid January-early February 44, AR 19 mm, 3.39 g. CAESAR·IMP Wreathed head of Caesar r.; behind, lituus and culullus. Rev. M·METTIVS Venus standing l., holding sceptre and Victory, and resting l. elbow on shield which in turn rests on globe; in l. field, K. Babelon Julia 32 and Mettia 4. C 34. Sydenham 1056. Alföldi, Monarchie, pl. XVII, 87 (this coin). Sear Imperators 100. RBW 1678. Crawford 480/3.
Rare and in exceptional state of preservation, among the finest specimens known.
A wonderful portrait of excellent style perfectly struck and centred on a broad flan and with
a wonderful old cabinet tone. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Ex Leu 52, 1991, 145 and Tkalec 28 October 1996, 120 sales. From the A. J. Minchin collection.

This coin featured on the dust cover of Roman Coins and their Values by David Sear, 2000.

Once permission had been given by the Senate commencing from 1st January 44 B.C., Mettius was the first moneyer to produce coins with Caesar's portrait. This maybe the closest we shall ever get to a true likeness of Julius Caesar, complete with scrawny neck, sagging skin and prominent Adam's Apple. Caesar is depicted wearing the corona aurea, usually reserved for a triumphator only on the day of his triumph. Pompey had unusually been given the right to wear his on certain limited state occasions, whereas Caesar had been awarded the right to wear it at all times, a right of which he apparently took copious advantage. This particular coin had been in the collection of A.J. Minchin, a Fellow of The Royal Numismatic Society since 1946.

Octavian. Aureus, Gallia Transalpina and Cisalpina 43, AV 21 mm, 8.17 g. C·CAESAR·COS·PONT·AVG Bare and bearded head of Octavian r . Rev. C·CAESAR· DICT·PERP·PONT·MAX Laureate head of Iulius Caesar r. Babelon Julia 64. C 2. Bahrfeldt 28.8 (this coin). Sydenham 1321. Sear Imperators 132. Kent-Hirmer pl. 30, 115. RBW 1714 (this coin). Biaggi 78 (this coin). Crawford 490/2. Calicó 52.

Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Two magnificent portraits of fine style, a die break on obverse, otherwise good extremely fine

Ex Hoffmann 20 February 1888, de Belfort, 78; Naville III, 1922, Evans, 8; Glendining's 19 July 1950, Plat Hall, 636; Leu 22, 1979, 186; Spink 82, 1991, 502 and Triton III, 1999, 825 sales. From the RBW and Biaggi collections.

Graded Ch XF Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5, light scuffs, NCG certification number 8559869-003

This coin dates from Octavian's election as consul together with his uncle Q. Pedius as colleague on 19 August 43 B.C. The coinage was needed to pay his eight legions. The inclusion of a portrait of Caesar would have appealed to the majority of his soldiers who were Caesarian veterans.

Sear suggests that although struck in a military camp outside the city of Rome, the workmanship indicates that an engraver from the Capitoline mint was probably seconded to Octavian, and remained with him.

The first aureus to be issued by Octavian, proudly proclaiming his first consulship, which he extorted from the Senate on 19th August 43 B.C. after he marched his 8 legions to Rome. Possibly the best likeness of Julius Caesar in gold, designed to appeal to his memory among the legions Octavian now commanded. It was clearly meant to demonstrate that Octavian was the rightful heir to Caesar, and now at least the equal of Caesar's fellow consul Marcus Antonius, whom he was about the meet later that year in Northern Italy. Octavian had anticipated this reconciliation by arranging for the repeal of Cicero's law rendering Antony a hostis.

Cleopatra with Marcus Antonius. Denarius, Eastern mint 34-32, AR 18 mm, 3.50 g. CLEOPATRAE – REGINAE·REGVM·FILIORVM·REGVM Draped and diademed bust of Cleopatra r. Rev. ANTONI· ARMENIA·DEVICTA Head of M. Antonius r.; behind, Armenian tiara. Babelon Antonia 95. C 1. Sydenham 1210. Sear Imperators 345. RBW 1832. Crawford 543/1.

Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest specimens in private hands. Two attractive portraits of unusually fine style (especially the one of Cleopatra) struck on a metal of exceptional freshness for the issue. An enchanting old cabinet tone, reverse slightly off-centre, otherwise good extremely fine

Ex Naville II, 1922, Vautier and Collignon, 66; Glendining's 2 April 1952, Ryan, 1930 and Leu 72, 1998, 403 sales.

Attributed by Crawford to a mint moving with M. Antonius in 32 B.C. but by Sear to Alexandria in 34 B.C. Cleopatra's portraiture appearing on the obverse of this coin favours Sear's attribution to its being minted by Cleopatra in Alexandria.

Antony appears as the victor over Armenia after the success of his campaign against Artavasdes.

If one accepts Sear's argument that Cleopatra minted this coin, since she appears on the obverse, then Alexandria is the likely mint. Conversely, Crawford places Antony's head on the obverse, and ascribes its origin to a mint moving with Antony in 32 B.C. It would be amazing if Antony was indeed responsible for issuing this coin, since it was politically inept to place the head of a living female monarch so prominently on a Roman coin.

Sear hypothesises that the coin was issued in connection with the Donations of Alexandria, in which case 34 B.C. would be the more appropriate date.

One of the truly most extraordinary of all Roman coins, in that Cleopatra appears on the obverse, with Marcus Antonius' head being relegated to the reverse. The legend "Queen of Kings and of her Sons who are Kings" might have suited Cleopatra's immediate political interests, but it was almost the death knell to Antony's cause back in Rome. It is hard to imagine that Antony had any say over its issue. It was therefore one of the most influential coins in Roman history.

Tetradrachm of the "Wappenmünzen series" circa 520, AR 26 mm, 17.16 g. Gorgoneion with open mouth and protruding tongue. Rev. Facing head and forepaws of panther within incuse square. Babelon, Taranto Hoard, RN 1912, 13 (this coin). Seltman 318a (this reverse illustrated). Svoronos pl. 1, 73. Jameson 1169c (this coin). Gillet 929 (this coin). Kraay, The Archaic Owls of Athens: classification and chronology, NC 1956, pl. 13, 7 (this coin illustrated). Kraay, Archaic and Classical Greek Coins, 173 (this coin). Nicolet-Pierre, RN 25, 1983, p. 19 and pl. 4, 23 (this coin).

Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest
specimens known. An issue of tremendous importance and fascination struck on excellent metal and with a wonderful iridescent tone. Obverse from a slightly worn die, otherwise extremely fine / good extremely fine

Ex Leu sale 20, 1978, 88. From the Charles Gillet (1879-1972) and the Jacqueline Morineau Humphris collections.

Sometime between c.525 and c.515 B.C., during the tyranny of Hippias (527-510), the Wappenmünzen coinage was superseded by the Gorgoneion series, of which an example is offered here. Gorgoneion tetradrachms are among the most significant coinages of Athens, if for no other reason than their denomination. Prior to this coinage the Athenians had stuck nothing larger than a didrachm – a coin equal in weight to a Corinthian stater. The introduction of double-weight coins perhaps indicates that the Athenians planned to start using coins for the purpose of large transactions and international trade, rather than principally for local use.

An equally important innovation of this coinage is the fact that its reverse bore an artistic design. With the exception of a truly remarkable Wappenmünzen didrachm struck with a reverse die that incorporates a facing lion or panther head within one of the quadrants of the incuse punch, all Athenian coins struck prior to this issue were essentially uniface. This may be the first instance at any mint in the western world when a full reverse type was employed. This, of course, would have a profound effect on the evolution of Greek coinage.

The use of an obverse and a reverse design made it possible for the Athenians to move ever closer to issuing a true 'state coinage' as opposed to an eclectic coinage on which a variety of personal designs were employed. With the obverse now bearing the facing head of the Gorgon – an emblem, albeit oblique, of the city's patron goddess Athena – any rotation of personal types (in this case just two, the facing heads of a lion or panther, and a bull) could be isolated to the reverse. This provided Athenian coinage with a sense of uniformity that sometime between circa 520 and circa 510 B.C. found its ultimate expression in the replacement of the Gorgoneion tetradrachms with those bearing the familiar Athena-owl design and the ethnic A?E.

Tetradrachm circa 480-435, AR 27 mm, 16.94 g. Silphium plant with two pairs of leaves and five umbels. Rev. KVPA Pearl-diademed, bearded and horned head of Zeus Ammon r . BMC p. xxxvii, 42 and pl. V, 16 (these dies). Jameson 1350. Weber 8425. Boston, MFA 1310. Traité III, pl. 263, 5. SNG Copenhagen 1174.

Very rare and undoubtedly the finest specimen in private hands. An exceptionally well-preserved and detailed obverse and a portrait of enchanting beauty, the work of a very skilled master-engraver.
Wonderful iridescent tone and good extremely fine

Cyrene was founded in about 630 B.C. by settlers from the island of Thera led by a certain Aristoteles Battus, and continued to be populated by others, principally Dorian Greeks. The venture was not easy, and the first two efforts failed. However, when the Thereans acquired local Libyan help, an ideal site was found that enjoyed good rainfall and had a freshwater spring.

Other dependent settlements were established before a second round of colonisation occurred in the 6th Century B.C. The initial co-operation between locals and colonists was continually tested as more Greeks arrived.

The dynasty established by Battus remained intact until the region succumbed to Persian rule in 525 B.C., which lasted to one degree or another until c.440 B.C. The locals then established a Republican-style government comprised of members of local families, who about a century later offered their loyalty to Alexander the Great.

Soon thereafter, in c.323 B.C., the Spartan mercenary Thibron temporarily seized power in the Pentapolis, as the region was known because of its five major cities. But the displaced oligarchs fled to Egypt, where they gained the support of Ptolemy I, Alexander's successor in Egypt. Under the leadership of the general Ophellas, Thibron was defeated and the region was annexed by Ptolemy.

Thereafter, various efforts to minimise or shed Ptolemaic rule occurred, even by the Ptolemaic strategoi Ophellas and Magas. A particular effort was made by citizens of Cyrene, who invited the Megalopolitan philosophers Ecdelos and Demophanes to confederate their cities as a republic, but it failed when in 246 B.C. a royal marriage occurred between King Ptolemy III and Magas' daughter Berenice II. As the only marriage of Ptolemy III, it cemented the relationship between Egypt and Cyrene, which remained strong until Cyrene fell into Roman hands in 96 B.C.

Sestertius 37-41, Æ 37 mm, 30.47 g. AGRIPPINA M F MAT C CAESARIS AVGVSTI Draped bust r., hair falling in long plait behind. Rev. S P Q R / MEMORIAE / AGRIPPINAE Carpentum with ornamented side drawn l. by two mules; the cover supported at the corners by standing figures. C 1. BMC Gaius 85. Kent-Hirmer pl. 47, 164. RIC Gaius 55. CBN Gaius 128.

Very rare and among the finest specimens known. A coin of enchanting beauty with a portrait of great elegance as well as exceptionally detailed and finely engraved reverse composition. Lovely untouched brown-red patina and good extremely fine

Ex Leu 45, 1988, 313; Triton IV, 2000, 458 and NAC 51, 2009, 176 sales. From the William James Conte collection.

Three issues of sestertii were struck in honour of Agrippina Senior, one of the most tragically unfortunate women of Roman history. She began life as a favoured member of the Julio-Claudian family during the reign of her grandfather Augustus, and upon her marriage to Livia's grandson Germanicus, she seemed destined to achieve the highest possible status.

However, upon the death of Augustus and the accession of Tiberius, her life took a turn for the worse: supreme power had shifted from the bloodlines of the Julii to the Claudii. Though her marriage represented and ideal union of Julian and Claudian, it was not destined to survive Tiberius' reign. Germanicus died late in 19 under suspicious circumstances, after which Agrippina devoted the next decade of her life to openly opposing Tiberius until in 29 he deprived her of freedom, and in 33 of life itself.

The sestertii dedicated to Agrippina are easily segregated. The first, produced by her son Caligula, shows on its reverse a carpentum; the second, issued by her brother Claudius, shows SC surrounded by a Claudian inscription, and the third is simply a restoration of the Claudian type by Titus, on which the reverse inscription is instead dedicated to that emperor.

Though both Caligula and Claudius portrayed Agrippina, each did so from their own perspective, based upon the nature of their relationship with her. The inscription on Caligula's coin, AGRIPPINA M F MAT C CAESARIS AVGVSTI, describes her as the daughter of Marcus (Agrippa) and the mother of Gaius (Caligula). While Claudius also identifies her as Agrippa's daughter, his inscription ends GERMANICI CAESARIS, thus stressing her role as the wife of his brother Germanicus. It is also worth noting that on the issue of Caligula Agrippina has a slender profile like that of her son, whereas on Claudius' sestertii her face is more robust, in accordance with his appearance.

The carpentum reverse is not only a superbly executed type, but has a foundation in the recorded events of the day. Suetonius (Gaius 15) describes the measures taken by Caligula to honour his family at the outset of his reign, which included gathering the ashes of his mother and brothers, all victims of persecution during the reign of Tiberius. Upon returning to Rome, Caligula, with his own hands, transferred to an urn his mother's ashes "with the utmost reverence"; he then instituted Circus games in her honour, at which "her image would be paraded in a covered carriage."

There can be little doubt that the carpentum on this sestertius relates to the special practice initiated by Caligula. The inscription, SPQR MEMORIAE AGRIPPINAE, is itself dedicatory from the Senate and the Roman people to the memory of Agrippina.

Aureus, Alexandria circa 294-296, AV 20 mm, 5.23 g. DOMITIA – NVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. VICTOI – AV – G Victory advancing l., holding wreath in r. hand and palm branch in l. C 3 = RIC 5 = J. Lallemand, Le Monnayage de Domitius Domitianus in RBN 87, 1 and pl. VI, 11 (these dies). Faces of Power 555 = Calicó 4805 (these dies).

Of the highest rarity, the sixth aureus to be known for this ruler and one of only 3 in private hands.

Undoubtedly one of the rarest and most difficult emperors of the entire imperial series to be found in gold. A portrait of superb style perfectly struck and centred on a very large flan. An almost invisible die break on obverse, typical for this die which is one of two known for this ruler. An obtrusive edge mark at nine o'clock on reverse,
otherwise virtually as struck and almost Fdc

Graded Ch AU? Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5, edge marks, NCG certification number 8560059-001

In 296, Egypt erupted in a series of uprisings after Diocletian attempted to align the province's long-standing, distinct tax system with the imperial system imposed on the rest of the Roman Empire. The new Diocletianic system was deeply unpopular in Egypt, which had enjoyed a special status within the empire since the time of Augustus. Not only would the new system impose heavier burdens on the lower strata of Egyptian society, but it would also negatively affect numerous corrupt local administrators who had profited from the old system for centuries.

In an effort to prevent Diocletian's reforms from taking effect and to preserve Egypt's traditional privileges, Domitius Domitianus (possibly the prefect of the province) proclaimed himself emperor in Alexandria in opposition to Diocletian. Few details survive regarding his reign, but his rebellion was serious, as he controlled the Egyptian grain supply to the rest of the empire. The severity of the situation is underscored by the fact that Diocletian left his ongoing war against the Sasanian Persian Empire to personally lead the campaign against the rebel in Egypt.

Fighting dragged on in the Egyptian countryside until December 297, by which time Diocletian had managed to reclaim the Thebaid, and Domitianus was dead. He was immediately succeeded in Alexandria by Aurelius Achilleus, the corrector (governor) of Egypt. After a siege that lasted until March 298, Alexandria fell, and Achilleus was executed. The rebellion was over.

While he lived and led the Egyptian revolt against Diocletian and the Tetrarchy, Domitius Domitianus appears to have initiated reforms aimed at improving the lives of his subjects, which in turn helped maintain the popularity of his brief reign. He seems to have undertaken efforts to restore irrigation systems, long neglected and responsible for leaving land fallow, and to reform the coinage of Egypt's closed monetary system. By the late third century, the Egyptian coinage system had been reduced to a single denomination – the potin tetradrachm – which was too large for everyday transactions. Probably in late 296, Domitianus introduced a bronze didrachm, as well as a potin octadrachm equivalent to the debased antoninianus used elsewhere in the empire. He also issued a bronze follis and an extremely rare gold aureus, which appear to have been intended to make Egyptian currency exchangeable with the reformed denominations introduced by Diocletian across the wider empire beginning in 294.

Unfortunately, despite the prominent depiction of Victory on the reverse of the aureus, this personification – so central to all successful revolts – ultimately eluded Domitius Domitianus and his supporters.