Auction Highlights
-
Greek Marble Head of Dionysus
Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
Carved in the half-round in three-quarter view, youthful male head with stern features, hair gathered in a browband, horns to the brow; from a frieze or relief; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Greek Marble Head of a Ruler
Sold for (Inc. bp): £31,200
Carved in the round with thick wreath of laurel leaves to the brow, short tousled hair, stern face with thick jaw; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Roman Veined Marble Torso of an Athlete
Sold for (Inc. bp): £48,100
Standing contrapposto with his weight on his right leg and the left leg brought slightly forward; the musculature of the torso displaying well-defined pectoral muscles, prominent abdominal muscles and wide shoulders, the back with equally toned musculature and well-formed rounded buttocks; the veining of the marble accentuating the idealised anatomy; the now-absent head was most probably turned towards the supporting leg and the left arm would have been raised; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Large Middle Elamite Cylinder Seal of Kidnu, Chief Overseer of King Tan-Ruhurater II
Sold for (Inc. bp): £15,600
A high-status green chalcedony seal with frieze depicting a seated figure in horned headdress facing a standing figure with arms outstretched, small monkey to the legs; six columns of Akkadian cuneiform text transliterated as: 1. ki-di-nu UGULA KUŠ-MEŠ 2. GAL šà tan-dru-hu- 3. ra-te-er EŠŠANA šu-ši 4. u an-za-an ARAD 5. šà dha-te-ri-iš 6. šak(?) ì-lí-šu 'Kidinu, chief overseer of the equerries(?) of Tan-Ruhurater, King of Susa and Anzan, servant of Haterishshak, his god'. The seal's owner was an official of King Tan-Ruhurater II (circa 1450 B.C.), king of Susa and Anzan. The title used to describe Kidinu is sometimes translated 'high official', elsewhere 'horse groom' or 'animal trainer'; the Elamite deity Haterish is otherwise unknown. -
Mesopotamian Torch Bearer Stand with Lion Tamer
Sold for (Inc. bp): £46,800
A substantial torch bearer depicting a male lion or panther standing with legs firmly planted on a rectangular base, tail extending to the ground, with a massive circular shaped armature or candelabra issuing from its back and wearing an elaborate muzzle, the eyes retaining shell inlay with a circular hollow for the pupils; to the right of the beast a kneeling nude male wearing a large belt-armour and a diadem, eyes inlaid, left hand extended to the side and holding the lion's leash.
-
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Maximinus I, Thrax - Salus AR Denarius 235-238 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Obv: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: SALVS AVGVSTI, Salus seated left, feeding from patera a serpent arising from altar. 2.77 grams, 20 mm.
Choice extremely fine.
Property of a gentleman; acquired in the UK before 2000. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Balbinus - Clasped Hands AR Antoninianus 238 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £481
Obv: IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, radiate draped bust right. Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, clasped hands. 4.84 grams, 21 mm.
Extremely fine.
From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Balbinus - Providentia AE Sestertius March-April 238 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Rome mint. Obv: IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG legend with laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM legend with Providentia standing left holding rod and cornucopia, S - C in fields. 18.44 grams, 31 mm.
Very fine.
Property of a European gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Pupienus - Concordia AR Denarius 238 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Obv: IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left with patera and double cornucopiae. 2.39 grams, 20 mm.
Good very fine.
Property of a gentleman; acquired in the UK before 2000. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Pupienus - Pax AE Sestertius 238 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Obv: IMP CAES PVPIEN MAXIMVS AVG, laureate bust right. Rev: PAX PVBLICA S-C, Pax seated left with branch and sceptre. 19.97 grams, 28 mm.
Good fine/fine.
From a 1980s UK collection. Property of a London antiquarian. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Hostilian - Temple AR Antoninianus 251 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Antioch mint. Obv: CO VAL OSTIL MES COVINTVS CAESAR, radiate and draped bust right. Rev: SAECVLVM NOVVM, hexastyle temple, statue of Roma within. 3.12 grams, 22 mm.
Good very fine.
Property of a gentleman; acquired in the UK before 2000. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Aemilian - Mars AR Antoninianus 253 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Obv: IMP CAES AEMILIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: MARTI PACIF, Mars advancing left; holding branch, shield and spear. 2.05 grams, 20 mm.
Good fine.
Property of a private Norwich, UK, collector. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Mariniana, Wife of Valerian I - Peacock AE As 257 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Obv: DIVA MARINIANAE, veiled and draped bust right. Rev: CONSECRATIO, peacock, tail in splendour, S-C across fields. 7.80 grams, 24 mm.
Good fine. Rare denomination.
Ex Oats collection, UK. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Postumus - Mars AE Sestertius 260-269 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Lyons mint. Obv: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped bust right. Rev: P M TR P COS III P P, Mars walking right, holding transverse spear in right hand and trophy over left shoulder. 11.21 grams, 24 mm.
Good fine/fine.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Tetricus I - Brockage AE Antoninianus 270-273 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Obv: IMP C TETRICVS PF AVG, radiate bust right. Rev: brockage imprint of another coin. 2.03 grams, 17 mm.
Good very fine. Rare.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Tetricus I/II Hybrid - AE Antoninianus 273 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Obv: IMP C TETRICVS PF AVG, radiate, draped bust right. Rev: PRINC IVVENT, Tetricus II standing left, holding branch and vertical sceptre. 4.16 grams, 18 mm.
Extremely fine on a 'squared' flan. Very rare.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Probus - Three Monetae AE Medallion 276-282 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
Rome mint. Obv: IMP PROBVS PF AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear forward and shield decorated with scene of profectio. Rev: MONETA AVG, three Monetae standing facing, heads left, each holding scales in their right hands above a stack of coins at their feet, and cornucopia in their left hands. 21.11 grams, 30 mm.
Very fine. Very rare.
Ex Roma Numismatics, Auction VI, 29 September 2013, lot 990. UK private collection.