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 - Carausius - London - AE Pax Antoninianus 286-293 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Obv: IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right. Rev: PAX AVG, Pax standing with transverse sceptre, S-P across fields, mintmark MLXXI. 4.43 grams, 22.59 mm.
Good fine.
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Carausius - Camulodunum - AE Pax Antoninianus 286-293 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Camulodunum mint. Obv: IMP CARAVSIVS P AVG, radiate, draped bust facing right. Rev: PAX AVG, Pax standing, holding (branch and) transverse sceptre, mintmark C. 3.19 grams, 24.01 mm.
Good fine. Rare.
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Allectus - Colchester - AE Providentia Antoninianus Circa 293 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Camulodunum. Obv: IMP C ALLECTVS PF AVG, radiate, draped bust right. Rev: PROV[I]D AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe and cornucopia, S-P across fields, mintmark C. 3.92 grams, 23.82 mm.
Very fine.
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Constantine I 'the Great' - AR Seven Row Camp Gate Half-Argenteus 307-308 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Treveri mint. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust to right. Rev: VIRTVS MILITVM, camp gate with seven rows, no doors and four turrets, TR mintmark in exergue. 1.43 grams, 16.56 grams.
Good very fine. Rare.
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Constantine I - London - AE Follis 307-312 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
London mint. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from the back. Rev: SOL INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol standing left, chlamys draped over upper chest and left shoulder, holding globe and raising hand. No field marks. Mintmark PLN. 4.18 grams, 24 mm.
Choice extremely fine. Rare.
From a gentleman's London, UK, collection, in the 1990s. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Crispus - Armoured Spear and Shield AE3/4 319-320 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Ticinum mint. Obv: CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear (point forwards) and shield on left arm. Rev: VIRTVS EXERCIT, standard inscribed VOT XX with two bound captives seated to left and right of its base, mintmark PT. 2.97 grams, 19 mm.
Extremely fine. Rare.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Constantine I - Helmeted Bust AE3/4 319-320 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Ticinum mint. Obv: CONST-ANTINVS AVG, helmeted cuirassed bust right. Rev: VIRTVS-EXERCIT, two bound captives seated to left and right of standard inscribed VOT XX, mintmark PT. 2.62 grams, 19 mm.
Good extremely fine.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Honorius - Roma AR Siliqua 303-423 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Milan mint. Obv: DN HONORIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated left, holding Victory and sceptre, mintmark MDPS. 1.24 grams, 17 mm.
Good very fine.
Found Wiltshire, UK, before 1974. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Decentius - AE Double Nummus 353 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Trier mint. Obv: D N DECENTIVS FORT CAES, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right. Rev: SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES, large chi-rho between A and W, mintmark TRS. 7.71 grams, 26 mm.
Good very fine.
Ex Compton Dundon Hoard. Property of a North London, UK, gentleman. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Julian II - AR Reduced Wreath Siliqua 360-363 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Lugdunum (Lyon). Obv: pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: four-line legend VOT X MVLT XX within wreath, mintmark PLVG. 1.94 grams, 17.17 mm.
Very fine, small flan crack at 8 o'clock.
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Valentinian I - Ancient Imitation AR Siliqua 364-375 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Lyons mint. Obv: DN VALENTI-NIANVS PA, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right. Rev: VOTI V MVLT (sic) in four lines within wreath. Mintmark LVG. 1.47 grams, 16 mm.
Very fine. Rare.
Found Wiltshire, UK, before 1974.
Probably an ancient imitation or forgery, as neither Valentinian I nor Valentinian II struck votive siliquae in Lyons and the legends are incorrect. The obverse legend ending with PA is known from an imitation votive siliqua from the Trier mint, found in the Hermitage hoard. -
Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Valens - AR Siliqua 367-375 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Constantinople mint. Obv: DN VALEN-S PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VOT VX MVLT XX, in four lines within wreath, mintmark C chi-rho S. 1.91 grams, 18 mm.
Good very fine. Scarce.
Found Wiltshire, UK, before 1974.