Spring auction at Gorny & Mosch: Numismatic masterpieces from antiquity, the middle ages and modern times.

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Abner Gilmore
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PRESS RELEASE Auction 236-238 March 7-9, 2016, Preliminary Report Spring auction at Gorny & Mosch: Numismatic masterpieces from antiquity, the middle ages and modern times.

1 PRESS RELEASE Auction March 7-9, 2016, Preliminary Report Spring auction at Gorny & Mosch: Numismatic masterpieces from antiquity, the middle ages and modern times. From March 7 th 9 th, 2016 Gorny & Mosch will conduct its traditional spring auction. Three sessions will offer numismatic masterpieces dating back as far as 2,500 years: From antiquity to the medieval period and modern times. As every year, Gorny & Mosch will conduct its spring auction following the Numismata. The auction is comprised of three catalogues. Premium-quality ancient coins will go over the auction block on Monday. Then, in the late afternoon of Monday auction 237 will start, including ancient coins and lots, which will be continued the following day. Wednesday will be devoted to medieval and modern coins. Auction 235 Premium-quality ancient coins Auction 235 will feature ancient coins, which distinguish themselves through their style, condition, rarity and provenance; or everything combined. 5 Celtic coins, including a gold stater of the Bellovaci (2, EF, 3,200 euros), which can be compared to works of Picasso because of its stylistic simplicity, will be followed by Greek coins. Among them, the connoisseur will find many spectacular rarities. Greek coins As an example we can name a Sicilian tetradrachm from the city of Katane, which presents one of the finest specimens of an emission so popular due to its fine style. Since the coin is in such extraordinary condition, Apollon s elegant head, indicating a light smile, can be studied in full details (35, EF, 25,000 euros). Another example is an extremely fine Syracuse tetradrachm, whose dies were cut by Euth and Phrygillos. Back then, this piece was very innovative: on the reverse, the wheat wreath identifies the female goddess, normally Arethusa, with Kore or Demeter. Phrygillos, responsible for this design, was one of the most appreciated artists of his times and he worked for Thurion and Terina (65, extremely fine, 18,000 euros). But this is not the only rarity from Sicily: Let s take, for example, a dekadrachm of Euainetos (69, EF, 15,000 euros), a unique didrachm in gold, which was produced after 400, but reverted to the long obsolete quadratum incusum on its reverse (68, EF, 1,500 euros), and last but not least, a bronze of Timoleon in perfect condition displaying the finest green patina (76, VF-EF, 3,500 euros). A very special specimen is an extremely rare and perfectly preserved didrachm from Thermae Himerenses, where the displaced people of Himeras settled down after their city was destroyed in 408. Heracles is shown on the reverse, who, according to local legends, had visited the hot springs of this locality (93, EF, 45,000 euros). 1

2 A small series of unusually well preserved Cretan strikings will delight the connoisseur. As will a Gortyn drachm of extraordinary quality displaying Europe riding the bull (208, EF, 2,500 euros) and a stater from Phaistos, showing Herakles fighting the hydra on the obverse and the Cretan bull on the reverse (210, VF, 4,000 euros). Mintings of the Near East feature an Arabic tetradrachm of Abiel, daughter of Labas, of the Alexander type (295, EF, 10,000 euros). Furthermore, there are a few pieces in extraordinary condition stemming from the kingdom of Elymais and Parthia of which we d like to mention the following: a tetradrachm portraying the Parthian ruler Baydad of the 3 rd century B.C. (297C, VF-EF, 4,000 euros). And finally, a series of Sasanian coins including many rarities. Roman Republic The collector of coins of the Roman Republic should pay attention now: From ramo secco bars to aes grave and denarii and aurei, there are many pieces on offer, which will make every collector rejoice. Especially the high-quality preservation of the coins, favorably appraised, will, no doubt, attract many interested bidders. Roman Empire Also coins of the Roman Empire will be plentiful. There are gold, silver and bronze coins, every collector, who strives for quality, will be satisfied. Let s name a few examples: If we are talking about gold, it is certainly the aurei of the soldier emperors, which steal the show. There is Philip II as Caesar (481, EF, 22,000 euros), Trebonianus Gallus (484, FDC, 30,000 euros) or Volusianus (486, EF, 22,000 euros). All of those strikings are extremely rare, specifically considering their condition. Among the silver pieces, one specimen in particular shows the potential of the denarii. The Caracalla denarius, featuring a temple with the statue of Roma on its reverse, in front of which, on each side, six figures are placed, is unique and until now only known as an aureus (470, EF, 3,500 euros). A bit more frequent, but due to their condition noteworthy, are the bronzes offered at the auction. A good example is a sestertius of Nero. Its reverse displays the distribution of the congiarium (427, EF, 17,500 euros). But there are also quite a few rarities: for example a sestertius of Britannicus (421, EF, 57,500 euros) or a medallion of Constantius Chlorus prior to his appointment as Augustus (498, EF, 8,000 euros). Last but not least, Byzantine coins and gold coins of the great migration period will end this session. Auction 237 Ancient coins and lots Any bidder who didn t get lucky at the first auction should definitely take part in auction 237. Many interesting rarities, especially in the area of Greek fractions and bronzes will go over the auction block. 2

3 From the collection of Sasanian coins, out of which the top pieces were sold at auction 236, a bit less attractive specimens will be sold in this auction. For a real collector though it shouldn t matter that the condition of an extremely rare bronze coin of Vahram I from Balkh is only rated very fine (1532, 250 euros). Gold, silver and bronze and lead in the case of Byzantine seals auction 237 contains many Roman and Byzantine strikings, which are not seen every day. Also please take a good look at the lots. Next to more Sasanian coins, numerous other pieces, sensibly put together and favorably priced, will be on offer. After all, Gorny & Mosch is known for its famous lots! The same goes for the book lots, which, this time, consist of literature concerning the Near and Far East, some of the books are definitively rare and hard to detect on the market. Auction 238 Middle Ages / Kolb Medal Collection / Islam Collection On Wednesday, March 9 th, 2016, coins of medieval and modern periods will be auctioned off. The session starts with a magnificent Merovingian tremissis (3001, VF-EF, 2,000 euros). German Coins The auction will continue with numerous rarities of pre-1871 German strikings, including many rare gold coins in excellent conditions. For example an 1819 Baden-Durlach 10 gulden piece, of which only 4,332 pieces were minted (3014, EF-FDC, 7,500 euros). It is extremely well persevered, just as the 1741 double ducat of Charles William Frederick of Brandenburg (3031, EF-FDC, 7,500 euros). Also very attractive is a 1634 ducat of Regensburg, showing a detailed view of the city with its stone bridge on the reverse (3072, EF+, 4,000 euros). But also among the talers many rare pieces in outstanding condition can be found. For example a 1694 Hamburg double taler featuring the gorgeous city seal displayed in a baroque cartouche (3044, VF-EF, 10,000 euros). But let s not forget about the regiment taler of the city of Ravensburg, showing on its reverse the steepled city view and the city wall. Only 187 pieces of this rarity were minted (3068, VF-EF, 5,000 euros). This is followed by a section of post-1871 German coins, all in extraordinary condition. Here are a few examples: Anhalt, 5 marks 1914, FDC, estimated at 500 euros (3103); Bavaria, 5 marks 1874 D, NGC PF 65, Proof, estimated at 4,000 euros (3109A); Prussia, 2 marks 1877 A, Proof, estimated at 1,000 euros (3127C); Weimar Republic, 5 reichsmarks 1930G, NGC PF65, Proof, estimated at 7,500 euros (3202A). Kolb Collection If you are interested in medals, make sure to check out auction 238. It contains parts of the Augsburg Kolb Collection. Mainly, medals of the Renaissance are being offered. The geographical focus lays on 3

4 the German Empire and Italy. Especially remarkable are the many German personal medals, commemorating more or lesser known individuals. Merchants, gold smiths, university presidents, professional soldiers and majors, all of them appear to us on medals. It is especially worth mentioning, that the former collector did not only collect medals, but also other pieces of art, which served as a substitute for the expensive production of a medal in the 16 th and 17 th century and which are nowadays even more rare then their bronze counter pieces. We find a medallion cut in stone, hand-colored plaster-medallions, as well as a terracotta-medallion. Concerning the history of religion, the figure-rich strikings of the time of the Reformation, when the newly accentuated old truths of faith were put in the round of the medal, also need to be mentioned. World Coins Coins of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations lead to European strikings. Especially under the headline of Italy there is much to marvel about. For example a perfect Saluto d oro from Charles I of Anjou, displaying a charming motif of the Annunciation (3336, almost FDC, 3,500 euros). Considered extremely rare is a denarius from Pope John X in cooperation with Berengar I (3370, VF, 7,000 euros). It witnesses a time of war. Berengar became Emperor after he had captured his competitor Louis of Lower Burgundy and blinded him. His reign ended with his own murder, when Rudolf II of Upper Burgundy in Italy invaded. Rudolf s supporter, Pope John X, was deposed in 928 and murdered in prison. A series of Venetian ducats will conclude the Italian part of the auction. The Portuguese coins also offer a specimen, which can only rarely be seen. This Morabitino of Sancho I, in a stylized design, shows the King riding a horse (3405, EF-FDC, 15,000 euros). The most expensive piece of the auction comes from Russia. It is an extremely rare medal of merit of Paul I, which was awarded to Counts, Khans, as well as to Serbian and Montenegrian Voivodes (war lords) who served the czarist government (3414A, VF+, 100,000 euros). This is probably the only known specimen on the market! Please also take a look at our medieval and modern coin and medal lots, which are not only interesting but also favorably priced. There is, for example, a convolute of German coins, which represents an entire private collection. The sum of the nominal value amounts to 1,730 euros (3499). The estimate is 2,000 euros. A collection of Islamic coins is to follow, among which there are many Arab-Sasanian coins from the Sasanian Collection, of which most of the coins were offered in the prior two auctions. Lastly, there will again be a big part of strikings of the Ottoman Empire for sale, like a very rare 4 kabir ashrafi from Ahmad III (3550, VF-EF, 6,000 euros). All catalogues may be viewed online at and ordered at Gorny & Mosch, Giessener Münzhandlung,, D Munich, Tel. +49 / (0)89 / , Fax +49 / (0)89 /

5 Captions: No. 2: BELLOVACI (North Gallia and Gallia Belgica). Stater, ca D&T 271 (this piece). Extremely fine. Estimate: 3,200 euros No. 24: AKRAGAS (Sicily). Tetradrachm, ca From MMAG Auction 62 (1982), 34). Very rare. Good very fine. Estimate: 12,000 euros No. 35: KATANE (Sicily). Tetradrachm, ca HGC 566 (this piece). Very rare. Most likely one of the best specimen of this type. Extremely fine. Estimate: 25,000 euros No. 65: SYRACUSE (Sicily). Tetradrachm, ca Signed piece of Euth and Phrygillos. From Auction NAC 2 (1990), 101. Extremely fine. Estimate: 18,000 euros No. 68: SYRACUSE (Sicily). Gold didrachm, ca Unique. From Sternberg Auction 19 (1987), 67. Extremely fine. Estimate: 1,500 euros No. 93: THERMAE HIMERENSES (Sicily). Didrachm, 4 th century B.C. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 45,000 euros No. 202: ELIS (Peloponnes). Stater, ca Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 15,000 euros No. 208: GORTYN (Crete). Drachm, 3 rd century B.C. From Hirsch Auction 173 (1992), 281. Rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 2,500 euros No. 210: PHAISTOS (Crete). Stater, 4 th century B.C. From Künker Auction 94 (2004), 909. Rare. Very fine. Estimate: 4,000 euros No. 275: TARSOS (Cilicia). Mazaios, Stater. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros No. 297C: BAYDAD, King of the Parthians 3 rd century B. C. Tetradrachm. Rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 4,000 euros No. 304: AZARMINDUKHT, Queen of the Sasanian Empire 632. Drachm, Ctesiphon. Extremely rare. Very fine. Estimate: 6,000 euros 5

6 No. 313: PTOLEMAIOS III, king of Egypt Dodecadrachm, Alexandria. Extremely fine. Estimate: 20,000 euros No. 374: C. IULIUS CAESAR, Aureus, 46. Almost extremely fine. Estimate: 5,000 euros No. 427: NERO, Sestertius, 66, Lugdunum. From NAC Auction 52 (2009), 354. Extremely fine. Estimate: 17,500 euros No. 470: CARACALLA, Denarius, 206, Rome. Unique. From Tkalec Auction (1998), 217. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 3,500 euros No. 484: TREBONIANUS GALLUS, Aureus, Rome. Extremely rare. FDC. Estimate: 30,000 euros No. 498: CONSTANTIUS I CHLORUS Caesar, Medallion, Rome. Unpublished, unique. Gold plating mainly intact. Extremely fine. Estimate: 8,000 euros No. 3001: MEROVINGIANS. Austadius, Tremissis, no year, Cabilonnum (=Chalons-sur- Saone). Extremely rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 2,000 euros No. 3014: BADEN-DURLACH. Louis, guldens ,332 pieces minted. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 7,500 euros No. 3044: HAMBURG. Double taler Very rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros No. 3068: RAVENSBURG. Wide presentation taler 1624, Augsburg. 187 pieces minted. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 5,000 euros No. 3072: REGENSBURG. Ducat Very rare. Good extremely fine. Estimate: 4,000 euros No. 3103: GERMAN EMPIRE. Anhalt. Frederick II, marks 1914 Silver Wedding Anniversary. J. 25. FDC. Estimate: 500 euros 6

7 No. 3248: KOLB COLLECTION / MEDALS. Balduin Drentwett (Augsburg). Uniface hand colored plastermedallion 1577 on the death of Sebastian Schärtlin of Burtenbach, Landsknecht and colonel. Extremely fine. Estimate: 200 euros No. 3271: KOLB COLLECTION / MEDALS. Unknown mint master (Nuremberg). Uniface hand colored cast medal in lead 1525 on the great merchant Knight Wolf Ketzel of Nuremberg. Old cast. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 150 euros No. 3366: ITALY / NAPLES and SICILY. Charles I of Anjou, Saluto d oro, no year, Naples. Very rare. Almost FDC. Estimate: 3,500 euros No. 3370: ITALY / VATICAN. John X with Berengar I. Denarius, no year, Rome. Extremely rare. Very fine. Estimate: 7,000 euros No. 3405: PORTUGAL. Sancho I, Morabitino (180 dinheros) no year. Extremely rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 15,000 euros No. 3414A: RUSSIA. Paul I, Golden Award medal, no year, signed by Leberecht. Extremely rare. Only known specimen on the market. Very fine. Estimate: 100,000 euros No. 3550: OTTOMAN EMPIRE. Ahmad III, Kabir ashrafi. Extremely rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 6,000 euros 7

Numismatic Rarities: From the Wappenmünze to the German Thaler

PRESS RELEASE Auction 232-234 October 5-9, 2015, Preliminary Report Numismatic Rarities: From the Wappenmünze to the German Thaler The Gorny & Mosch October sale has much to offer. The sessions will present