Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[King John]

La prima volta dell’italia

Origine Sannitica del nome Italia.
Con la sconfitta finale di Annibale, (202 a.C.) inizia la fase definitiva dell'organizzazione della penisola italica, con la fusione tra l'idea di Italia e la reale situazione politica dei popoli che abitavano lo stivale. Nel 91 a.C. Con la Guerra Sociale, le popolazioni italiche si ribellano a Roma chiedendo maggiori diritti e, in sostanza, una definitiva integrazione. I popoli in rivolta si uniscono in una, "Lega Italica" che batte una propria moneta dove utilizza ufficialmente per la prima volta sia il termine ITALIA, che l’immagine simbolica del Vitello. La parola "Italia" non è altro che un - prestito linguistico - della parola "Viteliù" di origine osca, al greco che a sua volta la trasferisce al latino, dopo che la consonante "V", decadde. Questa tesi è motivata dal fatto che Víteliú sta a indicare "Terra dei bovini giovani" (cfr. Latino - Vitulus "vitello"), (cfr. Umbro - Vitlo "vitello"). Preso atto che il Toro era un simbolo molto diffuso presso i popoli della penisola che, al centro-sud, combattevano e si opponevano all'avanzata di Roma e della sua cultura, tanto da sfociare nelle guerre sociali. Il Toro, più precisamente il Vitello, molte volte viene raffigurato nell'atto di incornare una lupa come si può ben vedere sugli esemplari della monetazione emessa nel periodo della guerra sociale. In tale monetazione, risalente al 90 a.C., è raffigurata al dritto, la personificazione dell'Italia, quale Dea, accompagnata da una legenda che ne riproduce il nome, ITALIA, in alfabeto latino, o l'equivalente VITELIU (Víteliú=Italia) in alfabeto osco. Questi denari emessi dai Soci, (popoli), della Lega Italica, sono la prima testimonianza epigrafica dell'uso del nome Italia. Quindi nel 90 a.C., i ribelli istituirono un primo nucleo di Stato italiano, per la prima volta nella storia, si indicava il nome della patria comune a tutte le genti della penisola che si erano contrapposte a Roma. Fu eletto un senato di 500 membri, 2 consoli e 12 pretori. Dunque, proprio nelle monete della Lega Italica sannitica, appare il termine ITALIA (o VITELIU che è la stessa parola in lingua osca) e il toro che sottomette la lupa romana. La consacrazione definitiva dell'unità della penisola italica e della sua peculiarità all'interno del complesso sistema dell'impero romano è data dall'imperatore Augusto che nel 7 d.C. suddivide l'Italia in 11, "Regiones", definendone chiaramente il confine nell'arco Alpino a Nord, nel fiume Varo a Ovest e nel fiume istriano Arsa ad Est. Da allora in avanti, l’Italia resterà il cuore del vasto impero fino alla crisi del III secolo, il motore propulsore, la regina di tutte le province, l’unico territorio non sottoposto a tassazione.
 

[King John]

Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 4	Auction date: 25 May 2019
Lot number: 717
Lot description: Aemilian, 253. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 29 mm, 17.00 g, 6 h), Rome. IMP CAES AEMILIANVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Aemilian to right, seen from behind. Rev. IO[VI] CONSERVAT / S - C Jupiter standing front, head to left, holding thunderbolt in his right hand and long scepter in his left, protecting Aemilian, who stands left below thunderbolt holding patera in his right hand and short scepter in his left. Cohen 18. RIC 45. A lovely piece with an attractive brown-green patina and a fine portrait. Very light doubling on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine. From the AMP Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 98, 12 December 2016, 1386, and from the Gillardi Collection, UBS 78, 9 September 2008, 1870 (part of). Estimate: 1000 CHF ILLUSTRAZIONE: SCHINIERI DI UN GLADIATORE DECORATI CON I RILIEVI DI GIOVE (A SINISTRA) E DI NETTUNO (A DESTRA), AL CENTRO UN PUGNALE (MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO NAZIONALE, NAPOLI)

[eracle62]

6 ore fa, King John dice:

La prima volta dell’italia

Origine Sannitica del nome Italia.
Con la sconfitta finale di Annibale, (202 a.C.) inizia la fase definitiva dell'organizzazione della penisola italica, con la fusione tra l'idea di Italia e la reale situazione politica dei popoli che abitavano lo stivale. Nel 91 a.C. Con la Guerra Sociale, le popolazioni italiche si ribellano a Roma chiedendo maggiori diritti e, in sostanza, una definitiva integrazione. I popoli in rivolta si uniscono in una, "Lega Italica" che batte una propria moneta dove utilizza ufficialmente per la prima volta sia il termine ITALIA, che l’immagine simbolica del Vitello. La parola "Italia" non è altro che un - prestito linguistico - della parola "Viteliù" di origine osca, al greco che a sua volta la trasferisce al latino, dopo che la consonante "V", decadde. Questa tesi è motivata dal fatto che Víteliú sta a indicare "Terra dei bovini giovani" (cfr. Latino - Vitulus "vitello"), (cfr. Umbro - Vitlo "vitello"). Preso atto che il Toro era un simbolo molto diffuso presso i popoli della penisola che, al centro-sud, combattevano e si opponevano all'avanzata di Roma e della sua cultura, tanto da sfociare nelle guerre sociali. Il Toro, più precisamente il Vitello, molte volte viene raffigurato nell'atto di incornare una lupa come si può ben vedere sugli esemplari della monetazione emessa nel periodo della guerra sociale. In tale monetazione, risalente al 90 a.C., è raffigurata al dritto, la personificazione dell'Italia, quale Dea, accompagnata da una legenda che ne riproduce il nome, ITALIA, in alfabeto latino, o l'equivalente VITELIU (Víteliú=Italia) in alfabeto osco. Questi denari emessi dai Soci, (popoli), della Lega Italica, sono la prima testimonianza epigrafica dell'uso del nome Italia. Quindi nel 90 a.C., i ribelli istituirono un primo nucleo di Stato italiano, per la prima volta nella storia, si indicava il nome della patria comune a tutte le genti della penisola che si erano contrapposte a Roma. Fu eletto un senato di 500 membri, 2 consoli e 12 pretori. Dunque, proprio nelle monete della Lega Italica sannitica, appare il termine ITALIA (o VITELIU che è la stessa parola in lingua osca) e il toro che sottomette la lupa romana. La consacrazione definitiva dell'unità della penisola italica e della sua peculiarità all'interno del complesso sistema dell'impero romano è data dall'imperatore Augusto che nel 7 d.C. suddivide l'Italia in 11, "Regiones", definendone chiaramente il confine nell'arco Alpino a Nord, nel fiume Varo a Ovest e nel fiume istriano Arsa ad Est. Da allora in avanti, l’Italia resterà il cuore del vasto impero fino alla crisi del III secolo, il motore propulsore, la regina di tutte le province, l’unico territorio non sottoposto a tassazione.
 

Sono ancora qui nonostante tutto...

Bellissima la contestualizzazione del tondello, e stupendi ovviamente i due tondelli.

Quando si dice d'esser fieri all'esser Italiani...

 

[King John]

CNG 85, Lot: 33. Estimate $3000. Sold for $6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of ARMENIA. Artaxias II. 34-20 BC. AR Drachm (21mm, 3.21 g, 1h). Artaxata (Artashat) mint. Draped bust right, wearing earring and five-pointed Armenian tiara decorated with comet star; all within laurel wreath / Athena advancing left, holding transverse spear and round shield; IΔ to right, monogram in exergue. SCADA Group 1 (a2/p2 – this coin cited and illustrated); CAA -; AC -. VF, some roughness. Extremely rare, one of only four known.

From the R.A. Collection. Ex Araratian Collection (Part 2, Classical Numismatic Group 46, 24 June 1998), lot 693.
The eldest son of Artavasdes II, Artaxias II ascended to the throne upon his father’s capture by Mark Antony. Further skirmishes with Rome forced Artaxias to flee to Parthia, only later to return and make war with Artavasdes I of Media-Atropatene. Losing the faith of his people, Artaxias was assassinated and replaced by his brother, Tigranes III, with full support in Rome from Augustus.

[King John]

Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 4	Auction date: 25 May 2019
Lot number: 342
Lot description: KINGS OF ARMENIA. Tigranes IV (Restored) and Erato, 2 BC-AD 1. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18 mm, 5.81 g, 12 h), Artaxata. ACIΛEYC M[EΓAC TIΓPANHC] Jugate busts of Tigranes IV, wearing five-pointed tiara, and Erato to right. Rev. [ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙCΑΡ] - A The twin peaks of Mount Ararat, as seen from Artaxata. Coinage, 128 ('Tigranes II?'). CA 122 ('Tigranes II'). Kovacs 180. Very rare. A unusually sharp example with two exceptionally clear and attractive portraits. About very fine. From an important collection of Armenian coins. Tigranes IV had ruled in Armenia since 8 BC, but when he allied with the Parthians, he was driven out by a Roman army under Gaius Caesar and replaced by his brother Artavasdes III in 5 BC. Three years later, Tigranes regained control and eventually agreed to receive his crown from Augustus in an act of submission. The reverse legend of our coin refers to this event by calling the Armenian King 'friend of the Caesar'; the accompanying image shows the famous Mount Ararat as seen from Artaxata, with the Greater Ararat (5137 m) on the right, the Little Ararat (3896 m) on the left and some foothills in front. The obverse, on the other hand, shows us Tigranes IV with his half-sister and wife, the famous Queen Erato of Armenia, who would later, during her sole reign (circa 13-15 AD), become the last of the Orontid line to rule Armenia. Estimate: 2500 CHF illustrazione: il Monte Ararat

[King John]

Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 4	Auction date: 25 May 2019
Lot number: 339
KINGS OF ARMENIA. Artavasdes II, 56-34 BC. Drachm (Silver, 19 mm, 3.25 g, 1 h), Artaxata, RY 6 = 51/0 BC. Draped bust of Artavasdes II to right, wearing five-pointed tiara decorated with a star between two eagles and tied with a diadem. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ - BAΣIΛEΩN / AΡTAΥAZΔOΥ Helios (?) driving quadriga to left, being crowned with wreath by small figure of Nike held in his right hand; in field to left, monogram; above quadriga, ς. Kovacs 163. Extremely rare. An exceptional example of this very important issue, sharply struck in good silver and with a wonderful portrait. Somewhat rough, otherwise, about extremely fine. From an important collection of Armenian coins. Artavasdes II was the son of Tigranes 'II' the Great and - through his mother Cleopatra of Pontus - a grandchild of Mithradates VI Eupator. He succeeded to his father's throne as an ally of Rome, but he changed sides after the devastating defeat of Crassus against the Parthians at Carrhae in 53 BC. It was only in 36 BC, when Mark Antony launched his large-scale invasion of the Parthian Empire, that Artavasdes allied himself with Rome again. The Armenian King, however, failed to protect the siege weapon baggage train that he was entrusted with and Mark Antony eventually blamed him for the disastrous failure of his Parthian campaign. Two years later, the Romans invaded Armenia and disposed Artavasdes II, who was then held captive in Egypt for some years before being executed at the order of Mark Antony right after the battle of Actium. The silver coinage of Artavasdes II is uniformly very rare, as it was only struck in four years: Kovacs knew tetradrachms dated to 40/39 and 39/8 and drachms from 51/50 and 50/49 BC. Our coin thus belongs to the first silver emission of Artavasdes, struck just a few years after the Battle of Carrhae. Estimate: 35000 CHF

[eracle62]

9 ore fa, King John dice:

Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 4	Auction date: 25 May 2019
Lot number: 339
KINGS OF ARMENIA. Artavasdes II, 56-34 BC. Drachm (Silver, 19 mm, 3.25 g, 1 h), Artaxata, RY 6 = 51/0 BC. Draped bust of Artavasdes II to right, wearing five-pointed tiara decorated with a star between two eagles and tied with a diadem. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ - BAΣIΛEΩN / AΡTAΥAZΔOΥ Helios (?) driving quadriga to left, being crowned with wreath by small figure of Nike held in his right hand; in field to left, monogram; above quadriga, ς. Kovacs 163. Extremely rare. An exceptional example of this very important issue, sharply struck in good silver and with a wonderful portrait. Somewhat rough, otherwise, about extremely fine. From an important collection of Armenian coins. Artavasdes II was the son of Tigranes 'II' the Great and - through his mother Cleopatra of Pontus - a grandchild of Mithradates VI Eupator. He succeeded to his father's throne as an ally of Rome, but he changed sides after the devastating defeat of Crassus against the Parthians at Carrhae in 53 BC. It was only in 36 BC, when Mark Antony launched his large-scale invasion of the Parthian Empire, that Artavasdes allied himself with Rome again. The Armenian King, however, failed to protect the siege weapon baggage train that he was entrusted with and Mark Antony eventually blamed him for the disastrous failure of his Parthian campaign. Two years later, the Romans invaded Armenia and disposed Artavasdes II, who was then held captive in Egypt for some years before being executed at the order of Mark Antony right after the battle of Actium. The silver coinage of Artavasdes II is uniformly very rare, as it was only struck in four years: Kovacs knew tetradrachms dated to 40/39 and 39/8 and drachms from 51/50 and 50/49 BC. Our coin thus belongs to the first silver emission of Artavasdes, struck just a few years after the Battle of Carrhae. Estimate: 35000 CHF

Intriganti questi tondelli dei regnanti Armeni, anche se risentono della qualità stilistica e incisoria, portano con se egualmente molta espressività.

Ogni volta mi viene in mente di quel detto che dice che per fare un Greco ci vogliono  un Armeno e un Turco, due popoli astutissimi...

Ma i Greci non li batte nessuno...

[King John]

Nomos AG > Auction 18	Auction date: 5 May 2019
Lot number: 382
Lot description: Gilialmos (Guillaume), Patrikios and Strategos, 2nd half of the 11th century. Seal (Lead, 24 mm, 12.71 g, 12 h). ΜΑΡ - ΘV The Theotokos, nimbate, seated facing on a high-backed throne, holding a medallion bearing the bust of the infant Jesus on her lap. Rev. +ΘKE RO / HΘ TO CO OI / KETH ΓHΛH / AΛMO ΠPI / S CTPATH / Γω in six lines. Istanbul 2.238 (same dies?, but partially damaged). Nicely centered, clear and well-preserved. Very rare in the name of a Byzantine official of western-European origin. Nearly extremely fine. This seal is one of a relatively small number of Byzantine seals that are in the name of an official of western European origin; in this case (William), perhaps, an English- or Norseman. Since, aside from the title strategos, there is nothing overtly 'military' about this seal, - we do not have a military saint like Demetrios or George, and there are no weapons used as ornaments above or below the inscription - we cannot assume that the owner of this seal was, as the name might suggest, a member of the Varangian Guard; but it is, nevertheless, a tempting thought. In any case, the important civil and military/civil titles Gilialmos has (patrician and strategos = general or civil commander) ought to indicate that, as a Westerner, he must have been both highly talented and fully trusted. Estimate: 450 CHF

[King John]

Roma Numismatics Limited, Auction 2, lot 783, 2/10/20111

Magnentius Æ Centenionalis. Trier, 350-353 AD. DN MAGNENTIVS PF AVG, draped bust right; A behind / GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor on horseback galloping right, right, slaying pleading barbarian, weapons below; TRP(crescent) in exergue. RIC 271; C. 20. 6.81g, 25mm, 7h.
Good Extremely Fine. Strongly and centrally struck on a full flan. An exceptional example of the type.

[King John]

Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 4	Auction date: 25 May 2019
Lot number: 18
Lot description: CELTIC, Northwest Gaul. Carnutes. 3rd to mid 2nd century BC. Quarter Stater (Gold, 12 mm, 2.07 g, 5 h), 'à la cavalière sans bras' type. Celticized head of Apollo to left. Rev. Celticized horse galloping to left, horseman transformed into an armless figure with long flowing hair; below horse, pellet-in-annulet; below tail, star. DT 2077D. LT -. SLM 358. Extremely rare. A remarkably sharp and attractive piece of beautiful style. About extremely fine. From the Keltika Collection, Switzerland. Estimate: 3000 CHF

[King John]

Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann), Auction 4, lot 391, 2/06/2013   CONSTANTINE I THE GREAT (307-337). Follis. Siscia. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and shield. Rev: VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP / · BSIS ·. Two victories holding shield inscribed VOT/PR over altar. RIC 84. Condition: Extremely fine. Weight: 2.7 g. Diameter: 20 mm.

 

 

Modificato 17 Aprile, 2019 da King John

[King John]

Asse in bronzo della serie etrusca c.d “del Sacrificio” (prima metà III secolo a.C.)

Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze

 https://museoarcheologiconazionaledifirenze.wordpress.com/tag/monete/

ILLUSTRAZIONE: TRABEAZIONE DEL TEMPIO DI VESPASIANO RAFFIGURANTE STRUMENTI SACRIFICALI

Modificato 17 Aprile, 2019 da King John

[eracle62]

4 ore fa, King John dice:

Asse in bronzo della serie etrusca c.d “del Sacrificio” (prima metà III secolo a.C.)

Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze

 https://museoarcheologiconazionaledifirenze.wordpress.com/tag/monete/

ILLUSTRAZIONE: TRABEAZIONE DEL TEMPIO DI VESPASIANO RAFFIGURANTE STRUMENTI SACRIFICALI

Quando vedo le trabeazione mi parlano..

L'asse con quel ritratto frontale è un piccolo capolavoro, un tondello stupendo e intrigante.

Il ritratto mi ricorda molto l'Art Nouveau e il nostro Liberty..

[dabbene]

Il 16/4/2019 alle 14:49, King John dice:

Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 4	Auction date: 25 May 2019
Lot number: 342
Lot description: KINGS OF ARMENIA. Tigranes IV (Restored) and Erato, 2 BC-AD 1. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18 mm, 5.81 g, 12 h), Artaxata. ACIΛEYC M[EΓAC TIΓPANHC] Jugate busts of Tigranes IV, wearing five-pointed tiara, and Erato to right. Rev. [ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙCΑΡ] - A The twin peaks of Mount Ararat, as seen from Artaxata. Coinage, 128 ('Tigranes II?'). CA 122 ('Tigranes II'). Kovacs 180. Very rare. A unusually sharp example with two exceptionally clear and attractive portraits. About very fine. From an important collection of Armenian coins. Tigranes IV had ruled in Armenia since 8 BC, but when he allied with the Parthians, he was driven out by a Roman army under Gaius Caesar and replaced by his brother Artavasdes III in 5 BC. Three years later, Tigranes regained control and eventually agreed to receive his crown from Augustus in an act of submission. The reverse legend of our coin refers to this event by calling the Armenian King 'friend of the Caesar'; the accompanying image shows the famous Mount Ararat as seen from Artaxata, with the Greater Ararat (5137 m) on the right, the Little Ararat (3896 m) on the left and some foothills in front. The obverse, on the other hand, shows us Tigranes IV with his half-sister and wife, the famous Queen Erato of Armenia, who would later, during her sole reign (circa 13-15 AD), become the last of the Orontid line to rule Armenia. Estimate: 2500 CHF illustrazione: il Monte Ararat

Molto singolare questa moneta armena nella sua semplicità e nella sua particolare simbologia espressa, quel Monete Ararat con le sue due cime che si stagliano che rappresentano l’identita’ e il ricordo.

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 114	Auction date: 6 May 2019
Lot number: 348
Lot description: Greek coins  The Seleucid kings of Syria, Seleucus I, 312-280. Tetradrachm, Pergamum 281, AR 17.05 g. Bridled horsehead r., with horns. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ Elephant walking r; below, monograms. SC 2 (this coin). Of the highest rarity, apparently only two specimens known. An issue of tremendous importance and fascination. Perfectly centred on a full flan and with a lovely iridescent tone. Extremely fine Ex NAC 11, 1998, 111 and Tkalec 20 February 2000, 179 sales. This tetradrachm is an iconic issue of Seleucus I, the founder of the Seleucid dynasty, whose kingdom at its highest point extended from Thrace and Asia Minor in the West to Bactria in the East and from the Black Sea in the north to the borders of Egypt in the South. Out of all of the Successors of Alexander the Great, he was the one who came closest to restoring the entirety of the Macedonian Empire, and this coin essentially encapsulates the story of how he did it. The obverse type depicts the head of a magnificent horse adorned with the horns of a bull. The late antique Syrian chronicler John Malalas tells us that in his day (the late fifth-early sixth centuries AD) it was still possible to see a statue in Antioch representing the horned head of a horse erected by Seleucus to honour his own steed who had saved him from destruction at the hands of Antigonos Monophthalmos in 315 BC. Although Seleucus had been appointed satrap of Babylonia by an assembly of Alexander's former generals in 321 BC, Antigonos, who was made strategos of Asia at the same time sought to remove the satraps that he could not control and thereby become the new master of Alexander's Empire. Realizing the danger, Seleucus took to his horse and escaped from Babylon to the Egyptian court of Ptolemy. With Ptolemy's assistance, Seleucus was able to return to Babylon-again on his horse-and reclaim his satrapy in 312 BC. In 306/5 he embarked upon an eastern campaign to gain control of the Upper Satrapies. However, the real benefit of this campaign was a peace treaty made with the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta that involved the gift of 500 elephants. Elephants, such as the majestic creature depicted on the reverse of the tetradrachm, were the equivalent to the tank of the ancient Greek world, capable of great destruction and inspiring fear in infantry and cavalry alike ranged against them. Like the horse of the obverse, the elephants of Chandragupta had a pivotal role to play in Seleucus' reign. Thanks to their timely arrival at the Battle of Ipsos (301 BC), it was possible for Seleucus and his allies to defeat and kill Antigonos, thereby ending an ever-present threat to his security. With Antigonos gone, Seleucus could safely rule his eastern kingdom. The tetradrachm as a whole tells the end of the story. It was struck at Pergamon for Seleucus by a local dynast named Philetairos-the founder of the later Attalid dynasty. In 281 BC, the year the coin was issued, Philetairos and other cities and rulers of western Asia Minor invited Seleucus to march west and destroy his sometime ally, Lysimachos, who had made himself very unpopular in the region. Seleucus acquiesced to this request, defeating and killing Lysimacus at the Battle of Korupedion. This victory gained for Seleucus all of Lysimacus' former territory in Asia Minor and Thrace, but he was not able to savour this triumph for long. Later in the year, as he marched through Thrace, Seleucus was murdered by a refugee from the Ptolemaic court. While elephants and horses could make or break kingdoms, neither was proof against the assassin's dagger. Estimate: 100000 CHF illustrazione: testa di cavallo con briglie dal Mausoleo di Alicarnasso (350 a.C.), British Museum

[King John]

THESSALY, Larissa,  440 BCE, Youth wrestling bull left / Bridled horse galloping

[King John]

Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 181, lot 1691, 13/10/2009

RÖMISCHE PROVINZIALPRÄGUNGEN 
THRAKIEN
Antoninus Pius, 138 - 161 n.Chr. AE (26,68g) Vs.: ΑΥΤ ΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟΣ, Kopf mit Lorbeerkranz r. Rs.: ΗΓΕ ΓΑΡΓΙΛΙ ΑΝΤΙΚΟΥ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΠΟ/ΛΙΤΩΝ, Dionysos mit Stab reitet auf einem Panther n. r. RPC online - ; Varbanov, CIG 786 (= Muschmoff 5099). RRR! Rotbraune Glanzpatina, Vs. überarbeitet, gutes ss
Das bei Muschmoff erwähnte Exemplar ist leider so ungenau beschreiben, dass nicht sicher festzustellen ist, ob hier der gleiche Typ vorliegt.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: BASSORILIEVO RAFFIGURANTE DIONISO ACCOMPAGNATO DALLA PANTERA 

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXII	Auction date: 8 January 2019
Lot number: 921 Price realized: 3,250 USD   (Approx. 2,840 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Livineius Regulus. 42 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 4.25 g, 12h). Rome mint. Bare head right / Venatio scene: in foreground, lion charging right toward a bestiarius who spears it; in background on left, a wounded bear sits right; on right, another bestiarius, holding sword and shield, defends himself against a tiger charging left; L • REGVLVS in exergue. Crawford 494/30; CRI 179; Sydenham 1112; Livineia 12; BMCRR Rome 4271-2; RBW 1735. EF, deep cabinet toning. Rare.  This popular type depicts a venatio, a contest between bestiarii and various animals. Such activities served as the morning entertainment during a day at the games, with the "main event" – the gladiatorial contests – taking place in the afternoon.  Estimate: 2000 USD

[eracle62]

10 ore fa, King John dice:

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 114	Auction date: 6 May 2019
Lot number: 348
Lot description: Greek coins  The Seleucid kings of Syria, Seleucus I, 312-280. Tetradrachm, Pergamum 281, AR 17.05 g. Bridled horsehead r., with horns. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ Elephant walking r; below, monograms. SC 2 (this coin). Of the highest rarity, apparently only two specimens known. An issue of tremendous importance and fascination. Perfectly centred on a full flan and with a lovely iridescent tone. Extremely fine Ex NAC 11, 1998, 111 and Tkalec 20 February 2000, 179 sales. This tetradrachm is an iconic issue of Seleucus I, the founder of the Seleucid dynasty, whose kingdom at its highest point extended from Thrace and Asia Minor in the West to Bactria in the East and from the Black Sea in the north to the borders of Egypt in the South. Out of all of the Successors of Alexander the Great, he was the one who came closest to restoring the entirety of the Macedonian Empire, and this coin essentially encapsulates the story of how he did it. The obverse type depicts the head of a magnificent horse adorned with the horns of a bull. The late antique Syrian chronicler John Malalas tells us that in his day (the late fifth-early sixth centuries AD) it was still possible to see a statue in Antioch representing the horned head of a horse erected by Seleucus to honour his own steed who had saved him from destruction at the hands of Antigonos Monophthalmos in 315 BC. Although Seleucus had been appointed satrap of Babylonia by an assembly of Alexander's former generals in 321 BC, Antigonos, who was made strategos of Asia at the same time sought to remove the satraps that he could not control and thereby become the new master of Alexander's Empire. Realizing the danger, Seleucus took to his horse and escaped from Babylon to the Egyptian court of Ptolemy. With Ptolemy's assistance, Seleucus was able to return to Babylon-again on his horse-and reclaim his satrapy in 312 BC. In 306/5 he embarked upon an eastern campaign to gain control of the Upper Satrapies. However, the real benefit of this campaign was a peace treaty made with the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta that involved the gift of 500 elephants. Elephants, such as the majestic creature depicted on the reverse of the tetradrachm, were the equivalent to the tank of the ancient Greek world, capable of great destruction and inspiring fear in infantry and cavalry alike ranged against them. Like the horse of the obverse, the elephants of Chandragupta had a pivotal role to play in Seleucus' reign. Thanks to their timely arrival at the Battle of Ipsos (301 BC), it was possible for Seleucus and his allies to defeat and kill Antigonos, thereby ending an ever-present threat to his security. With Antigonos gone, Seleucus could safely rule his eastern kingdom. The tetradrachm as a whole tells the end of the story. It was struck at Pergamon for Seleucus by a local dynast named Philetairos-the founder of the later Attalid dynasty. In 281 BC, the year the coin was issued, Philetairos and other cities and rulers of western Asia Minor invited Seleucus to march west and destroy his sometime ally, Lysimachos, who had made himself very unpopular in the region. Seleucus acquiesced to this request, defeating and killing Lysimacus at the Battle of Korupedion. This victory gained for Seleucus all of Lysimacus' former territory in Asia Minor and Thrace, but he was not able to savour this triumph for long. Later in the year, as he marched through Thrace, Seleucus was murdered by a refugee from the Ptolemaic court. While elephants and horses could make or break kingdoms, neither was proof against the assassin's dagger. Estimate: 100000 CHF illustrazione: testa di cavallo con briglie dal Mausoleo di Alicarnasso (350 a.C.), British Museum

Adesso ho capito dove aveva preso spunto Leonardo...si vede che collezionava anche lui tondelli....

Esemplare di grande forza e vitalità, il cavallo anche se statico, si muove egualmente, i tratti somatici sono incantevoli, e odo il suo nitrito chiaramente..

Nell'elefante invece nonostante sia ritratto in movimento, la staticità delle sue forme, (ed in particolar modo le zampe interne incise in malamente per mancanza prospettica e dimensione) lo rendono troppo statuario e meno dinamico.

Nel complesso però un tondello d'impatto straordinario con tutto il suo carico storico, e poi  avercelo...

 

 

[dabbene]

Ma perché non fai un il meglio di ...per me ne varrebbe la pena, in fondo poi più che le parole parlano le immagini della nostra storia e che immagini !

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXI, 9/01/2018

The Staffieri Collection 
EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 22.62 g, 12h). Labors of Herakles series. Dated RY 6 (AD 142/143). [AVT K] T AIΛ A∆P ANTωNIN[OC CЄB ЄVC], laureate head right / Herakles and the Mares of Diomedes – Herakles standing right, nude but for lion's skin over his left shoulder and billowing out behind him, holding the mane of one of Diomedes' mares with his left hand and preparing to strike it with his club held with his right hand; a fallen mare behind him to the left; Diomedes laying prostrate to the right before him on the ground; L ς (date) in exergue. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 8505 (same dies); K&G –; Emmett 1553.6 (this regnal year not listed in his chart in error, as the reverse of this coin is illustrated on p. 74B); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 159 (this coin). Good VF, dark brown patina with touches of green and red. Extremely rare, and one of the finest known for the type. Emmett lists this types as being struck for just one of Pius' regnal years, 10, but as noted above, he should have listed it for RY 6 also. Another variant exists with the scene reversed, with Herakles standing left (Emmett 1552), which is known for years 5 and 6.
From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Triton I (2 December 1997), lot 731; Walter Niggeler Collection (Part 2, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 21 October 1966), lot 736 (CNG's notated copy of this sale lists M. Ratto as the buyer).
The four mares of the giant Diomedes, king of the Bistones in Thrace, had a nightmarish taste for human flesh. It was Herakles' task to steal them, and he set about doing so with a cortege including the Lokrian youth Abderos, a beloved of the hero, who in the midst of the story is eaten by the horses. Herakles, according to some renderings, was so distraught that he fed Diomedes to his own mares in revenge. The Thracian town of Abdera was founded nearby Abderos' grave.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: ERACLE CATTURA LE CAVALLE DEL RE DIOMEDE

Diomede era il re dei Bistoni, barbara popolazione della Tracia. L'ottava fatica di Eracle consisteva nel  catturare le quattro cavalle selvagge del re, che venivano usualmente nutrite con i corpi degli stranieri che sventuratamente approdavano in quei lidi. L’eroe riuscì a catturare gli animali, uccidendo Diomede e resistendo agli attacchi dei Bistoni, portandoli infine a Micene, al cospetto di Euristeo.

Modificato 19 Aprile, 2019 da King John

[King John]

Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann) > Auction 67	Auction date: 1 July 2018
Lot number: 26 Price realized: 85 EUR   (Approx. 99 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: SICILY. Messana. The Mamertinoi (211-208 BC). Ae Pentonkion or Pentachalkon.  Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right. Rev: MAMEPTINΩN.  Warrior, holding spear and shield, advancing right; Π (mark of value) to right. BAR Issue 40; HGC 2, 858.  Condition: Near very fine. Weight: 3.8 g. Diameter: 16 mm. Estimate: 50 EUR

[King John]

Stack's, Coin Gallerie December 2006, lot 16, 13/12/2006

ERYTHRAI. Ionia. 5th Century B.C.
Drachm. Youth standing l. restraining horse cantering l., grain-ear behind. Rv. Stellate flower within incuse square, E-P/Θ-Y in the corners. 4.56 grams. BMC 18. Deep light medium gray. Well centered. Choice Very Fine and very rare. (1200-1500)

ILLUSTRAZIONE: PARTICOLARE DEL FREGIO DEL PARTENONE

Modificato 19 Aprile, 2019 da King John

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 227, lot 263, 10/02/2010

THRACE, Bizya. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ 28mm (9.02 g, 6h). Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / Symposium scene: male reclining left on couch; at feet, female seated slightly right; to left, youth standing facing, head right; to right, forepart of horse left. Jurukova Bizye 8.F var. (obv. legend); Varbanov 1415-6 (obv. legend and bust type). Near VF, dark brown patina. 

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 96, lot 1146, 6/10/2016

Greek Coins 
Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221-204 BC Octodrachm, Sidon circa 202-200 BC, AV 27.80 g. 
Description Diademed and draped bust r. Rev. ΠTOΛEMAIOY – ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ Eagle standing r., with closed wings, on thunderbolt; in r. field, ΣΩ / ΣI. References 
Bank Leu Auction 52, 15 May, 1991, lot 136 (these dies) Condition 
Of the highest rarity, only two specimens known, and among the most spectacular gold Greek coins in existence. A magnificent portrait work of very skilled master engraver perfectly struck in high relief, a real masterpiece of Hellenistic art. Almost invisible marks, otherwise Virtually as struck and almost Fdc Provenance 
Numismatic Fine Arts sale XXV, 1990, 285
Ira & Larry Goldberg sale 72, 2013, 4111
The Hunter collection 
This extremely rare and intensely desirable octodrachm represents the pinnacle of Hellenistic portrait coinage although it was struck in connection with what was probably the greatest crisis for the Ptolemaic kingdom since its founding by Ptolemy I Soter (323-283/2 B.C.). Ptolemy V, known as Epiphanes, came to the throne at the young age of five when his father, Ptolemy IV, died. He was under the control of a cabal of ministers and courtiers, who already exercised excessive influence under his debauched father and who, upon Ptolemy IV’s death, immediately did away with his popular mother, Arsinöe III. This situation left the Ptolemaic kingdom in a precariously weak state, which the Antigonid Macedonian and Seleucid kings, Philip V and Antiochos III, plotted to use to their advantage. In 205 B.C., they agreed to divide the Ptolemaic possessions outside Egypt between them and while Philip V began attacks in Asia Minor and the Aegean Islands, Antiochos III embarked upon the Fifth Syrian War. Despite some early success in defending Phoenicia against Antiochos III, the total defeat of the Ptolemaic army at Panion in 201 B.C. guaranteed the successful Seleucid conquest of the region. Phoenicia was never again a Ptolemaic possession until Mark Antony presented (or sold) it to Cleopatra VII (51-30 B.C.) in what has become known as the Donations of Alexandria. Impressive gold denominations struck at Ptolemaic mints in Phoenicia were normally connected to preparations for war with the neighboring Seleucid kingdom (i.e. the dated issues of the Third and Fourth Syrian Wars) and the present octodrachm is no exception. It appears to have been struck at Sidon shortly after the intentions of Antiochos III became clear, apparently in order to fund defensive works and the massing of troops in the region on the eve of the Seleucid invasion. The mint is indicated by the ΣΙ mintmark in the right field of the reverse. The letters ΣΩ below the mintmark is commonly described as the signature of Sosibios, the chief Alexandrian minister under Ptolemy IV and at the beginning of that of Ptolemy V. However, Sosibios was deposed by his colleague Agathokles already in 203/2 B.C., that is, before the gold Ptolemy IB portrait series was struck. Thus the letters ΣΩ cannot stand for Sosibios and must refer to a different individual. The choice of types employed on this coin strongly suggests the dire situation in which the Ptolemaic kingdom found itself. The obverse of this octodrachm features a stunning portrait of Ptolemy IV in the best Hellenistic style and executed by a true master of the ancient engraver's art. The fine treatment of the king's facial features has led to the suggestion that they visually express his dissolute character, but this sort of interpretation has been strongly criticized in recent years for its basis in stereotype. The king is clearly not intended to appear foppish here: an unseen wind blows out the ends of his diadem giving him the air of a man of action, completely fearless and at ease when about to charge into the midst of the storm. Indeed, it is largely for this reason that Ptolemy IV appears on this issue of his young son and successor. His image serves not only to advertise the legitimacy of young Epiphanes in the face of his enemies, but perhaps more importantly to rally the kingdom around the son of a king who had previously held back an invasion by Antiochos III during the Fourth Syrian War (219-217 B.C.). At the head of an army including many untested native Egyptians, Ptolemy IV had defeated Antiochos III in an epic battle at Raphia, thereby saving the kingdom from conquest. The octodrachm portrait is simultaneously a reminder of that signal victory and an invocation for the deified victor of Raphia to aid the kingdom again in its hour of need. Also suggesting a call for divine protection against the invading Seleucids is the eagle type of the reverse. The eagle standing on a thunderbolt was established as the badge of the Ptolemaic dynasty already under Ptolemy I Soter. It is explained by a dynastic myth in which the child Ptolemy was saved from death by the timely intervention of an eagle serving the will of Zeus, the greatest of the Olympian gods. Since this type was normally reserved for silver issues, it is tempting to see it as having a special soteriological meaning here. Unfortunately, as it turned out, this beautiful golden prayer for protection from an embattled son to his divine father was not answered; Phoenicia and Koile Syria were lost to the Seleucids.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: TESTA IN MARMO DI TOLOMEO IV FILOPATORE

Modificato 19 Aprile, 2019 da King John