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SOVEREIGN RARITIES AUCTION XXIII: KILMARNOCK COLLECTIONSovereign Rarities will be hosting the Kilmarnock Collection & Part III of Highcliff Collection on September 22. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett 
Bruttium, Kroton, Bruttium, Kroton, Silver 1/3-Stater, c. 300 BC, ??S??[OS], head of the river god Aisaros right, rev. KPO, Pegasus flying right, 1.92g, 12h, 14mm (HN III 2196; SNG ANS 423). Die flaw under truncation, well-centred, good very fine with cabinet tone, very rare.
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† Sicily, Leontinoi, † Sicily, Leontinoi, silver Tetradrachm, c. 450-440 BC, laureate head of Apollo right, rev. LEO-NT-I-NO-N, head of roaring lion right, four barley grains around, 17.27g, 9h (Boehringer, Münzgeschichte, 38; SNG Lloyd 1053; Rizzo-Pl. XXIII, 2 [this obverse die]; SNG ANS-228 [this reverse die]). Toned and struck on a broad flan, good very fine.
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Kings of Macedon, Alexander III, The Great (336-323 BC), Among the more imposing denominations of Alexander III's precious-metal coinage is the gold distater, represented here by a lifetime issue attributed to Aegeae, 336–323 BC. Weighing 17.17g, at approximately twice the weight of the standard Attic gold stater, the distater was a substantial denomination and a comparatively uncommon element of Alexander's monetary system. The obverse bears the head of Athena facing right, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a serpent. This Athena type became one of the defining images of Alexander's gold coinage. The reverse depicts Nike standing left, holding a wreath in her extended hand and a stylis, or naval standard, accompanied by the legend A?E?AN?POY, "of Alexander." A thunderbolt occupies the left field, while a ?O monogram appears beneath Nike's wing, providing the control marks by which the issue may be distinguished within the broader series. The combination of Athena and Nike was particularly appropriate to Alexander's coinage. Athena embodied martial intelligence and divine protection, while Nike supplied an explicit personification of victory. Together they presented a powerful visual expression of Macedonian military success and authority at a time when Alexander's campaigns were transforming the political geography of the eastern Mediterranean and Near East. Also noteworthy is the apparent correspondence between the dies of the present specimen and those recorded for Price 191b. Such die relationships are of particular numismatic significance, as they can assist in reconstructing the chronology, organisation and scale of production within an ancient coinage. As a lifetime issue, the coin belongs to the period before Alexander's death at Babylon in 323 BC. This distinction is significant: Alexander's types continued to be struck extensively after his death, both by his immediate successors and by later authorities. Coins securely attributable to his lifetime therefore occupy a particularly important position within the vast and complex Alexander coinage. Certified by NGC as XF, Strike 5/5, Surface 2/5, marks, the specimen retains an exceptionally strong strike, while its lower surface assessment records the marks and other surface characteristics acquired during its long history. Beyond its exceptional strike, the coin is notable for its substantial denomination, identifiable die attribution and place within the lifetime gold coinage of Alexander the Great, one of the most historically consequential rulers of the ancient world.
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Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Ptolemy I (305-285 BC), This rare gold stater was struck in Cyrenaica under Magas during the reign of Ptolemy I Soter (305–285 BC). At 7.14g, it conforms to the reduced gold standard introduced by Ptolemy during the formative years of the monarchy. The obverse bears the diademed portrait of Ptolemy I, wearing the aegis, an important early expression of personal kingship in Hellenistic coinage. The reverse, inscribed ?????????? ??S???OS ("of King Ptolemy"), depicts the deified Alexander the Great driving an elephant quadriga, imagery recalling his eastern conquests and reinforcing Ptolemy's claim to Alexander's political and military legacy. Struck under Magas, Ptolemy's governor in Cyrenaica, the type represents an important expression of Ptolemaic authority beyond Egypt and is catalogued as Svoronos 102; CPE 271. The coin possesses a distinguished provenance extending back to Jacob Hirsch, Auction 54, 5 May 1914, lot 519, and later Hess-Leu, Auction 31, 6 December 1966, lot 563. It is also a Naville plate coin: Les Monnaies d'Or de la Cyrénaïque (1951), no. 243d. This documented history of more than a century adds considerably to its numismatic significance. The survival of the coin in Choice Extremely Fine condition, certified by NGC as Ch XF, Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5, brushed, is also notable for the absence of serious striking weakness or surface disturbance; the overall state of preservation remains strong and permits the principal elements of Ptolemy's portrait and the elaborate elephant quadriga to be clearly appreciated. The stater encapsulates the emergence of Ptolemaic kingship, juxtaposing Ptolemy's royal portrait with the deified Alexander and asserting dynastic continuity with his legacy. Its Naville plate attribution and provenance to 1914 further enhance its historical and numismatic significance.
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Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos (305-281 BC), Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos (305-281 BC), silver Tetradrachm, uncertain mint, diademed head of Alexander the Great right, deified, with the horn of Ammon, rev. ??S???OS ??S??????, Athena seated left, holding Nike, crowning the king's name, in her right hand, and leaning with her left arm on shield decorated with lion's head, AP monogram in left field, ME monogram under throne, 16.96g, 12h (Müller 434). At some point lightly buffed, now re-toned with dramatic cobalt and russet patina, good very fine.
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Kings of Pontus, Mithradates VI Eupator (c. 120-63 BC), Kings of Pontus, Mithradates VI Eupator (c. 120-63 BC), gold Stater with the name and types of Lysimachus, Tomis, c. 88-86 BC, diademed head of the deified Alexander right, pellet behind, rev. BASI?EOS ?YSIMAXOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike with wreath, and resting arm on shield, TEM, in inner left field, TO below throne, in exergue, trident, 8.45g, 1h (de Callataÿ p. 141-2 [D4/R1]; SNG Copenhagen 1091 this obverse die). Good extremely fine.
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Lesbos, Mytilene, Lesbos, Mytilene, electrum Hekte, c. 377-326 BC, head of Dyonisus right, rev. head of satyr wearing wreath of grain leaves, within linear square, 2.55g, 1h (Bodenstedt 87; HGC 6, 1013; SNG von Aulock 1719). Nearly extremely fine.
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Ionia, Phokaia, Ionia, Phokaia, electrum Hekte, c. 521-478 BC, forepart of griffin left, seal behind, rev. quadripartite incuse square, 2.52g (Bodenstedt 42; SNG von Aulock -). Nearly extremely fine, rare.
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Ionia, Phokaia, Ionia, Phokaia, electrum Hekte, c. 387-326 BC, head of Athena left, rev. quadripartite incuse square, 2.55g (Bodenstedt 111; SNG von Aulock -). Extremely fine.
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Kings of Bithynia, Prusias I (228-185 BC), Kings of Bithynia, Prusias I (228-185 BC), silver Tetdradrachm, Nicomedia, diademed head right, rev. ??S???OS ?POYSIOY, Zeus standing left, holding long sceptre and laurel wreath, thunderbolt and monogram in field, 16.66g, 1h (SNG v. Aulock 6878; HGC 614). Very small flan flaw to obverse, almost extremely fine and boasting a portrait of exceptional Hellenistic style.
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Tetrarchy, Diocletian (AD 286-305 as co-emperor with Maximian), Tetrarchy, Diocletian (AD 286-305 as co-emperor with Maximian), silver Argenteus, Aquileia, c. AD 300, DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right, rev. XCVI/AQ in two lines within wreath, 3.12g, 12h (RIC VI, 16a). Very fine.
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Tetrarchy, Maximian (AD 286-305, as co-emperor with Diocletian), Tetrarchy, Maximian (AD 286-305, as co-emperor with Diocletian), silver Argenteus, Treveri, c. AD 300-301, MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left, rev. VIRTVS MILITVM, the four princes sacrificing over tripod in front of camp gate with six turrets, in exergue, club, 2.22g, 12h (RIC VI, 125). Minor flan crack, about extremely fine, very rare with left facing bust.
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See www.sovr.co.uk for much more detail about all of these coins, medallions and more!
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