Home > Auctions > 3 - 11 June 2025
Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins
Rare Hemidrachm of Iasos
Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Laureate head of Apollo to right / IAΣE, lyre within incuse square. HN Online 613; SNG Copenhagen 408. 1.74gr, 12mm, 9h.
Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare.
Private collection, acquired 1980–1985.
According to the ancient authors, the mountains in the neighbourhood of Iasos were a source of beautiful marble, of blood-red and vivid white colour, ideal for ornamental purposes. Near the town was a sanctuary of Artemis Astias, with a statue of the goddess, and just as it was widely believed that the statue of the Kindyan Artemis, although in the open air, was never touched by snow or rain, so was the statue of Artemis Astias believed by the Iaseis.
Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare.
Private collection, acquired 1980–1985.
According to the ancient authors, the mountains in the neighbourhood of Iasos were a source of beautiful marble, of blood-red and vivid white colour, ideal for ornamental purposes. Near the town was a sanctuary of Artemis Astias, with a statue of the goddess, and just as it was widely believed that the statue of the Kindyan Artemis, although in the open air, was never touched by snow or rain, so was the statue of Artemis Astias believed by the Iaseis.
Jugate heads of Apollo, laureate, and Artemis to right / Hermias swimming with dolphin to right; IAΣΕΩΝ. Cf. HN Online 277 (temporary). 8,48gr, 20mm, 12h.
Very Fine.
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London.
Very Fine.
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London.
ΑΝΤΑΙΟΣ (Antaios), magistrate. Helmeted head of Athena to right / Sword in sheath with strap; AN-TAI above K-AY (AY ligate) across upper field, filleted palm frond to lower right. Ashton, Hellenistic 77-80; SNG Keckman 77; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München -; SNG von Aulock 2565. 1.15gr, 12mm, 12h.
Near Extremely Fine. Lightly toned.
Swiss private collection, acquired in 1993.
Near Extremely Fine. Lightly toned.
Swiss private collection, acquired in 1993.
Rare Miniature Piece of Art
Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Milesian standard. Forepart of lion to right, head, with open jaws, turned back / Male head (Apollo?) facing slightly to left. SNG Kayhan 837-8. 0.29gr, 6mm, 12h.
Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.
Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.
The Second Known Example of This Rhodian Name
Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
ΣΩΜΑΧΟΣ (Somachos), magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose of six petals seen from above; ΣΩΜΑΧΟΣ above, P-O across fields, palm branch to left below. Unpublished magistrate's name in the major references including Ashton. 4.00gr, 21mm, 8h.
Good Very Fine. The second known example of this magistrate [Numismatik Naumann 82, 156 (hammer 1,200 EUR).
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.
The name Somachos is not found anywhere else, although it does not appear to be of Rhodian origin (for more see Alan J. Nussbaum, Rhodian Personal Names in Αγλου-, Αριστου-, Τιμου- and the Dialect History of the Island, p. 455 in 'A Tribute to Massimo Poetto on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday', Warsaw, 2019).
Good Very Fine. The second known example of this magistrate [Numismatik Naumann 82, 156 (hammer 1,200 EUR).
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.
The name Somachos is not found anywhere else, although it does not appear to be of Rhodian origin (for more see Alan J. Nussbaum, Rhodian Personal Names in Αγλου-, Αριστου-, Τιμου- and the Dialect History of the Island, p. 455 in 'A Tribute to Massimo Poetto on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday', Warsaw, 2019).
Sardeis mint. Confronted foreparts of lion to right, with extended right foreleg, and bull to left / Oblong incuse punch. Cf. Berk 23; cf. Demeester 136. 4.24gr, 15mm.
Near Very Fine.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.
Near Very Fine.
Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.
Exceedingly Rare
Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
ΔΙΟΤΡΕΦΗΣ (Diotrephes), magistrate. Basket (cista mystica), with half-open lid, from which snake coils, around, ivy wreath with fruits / Two snakes coiled around a bow case ornamented with aplustre, and containing a strung bow, between the snake heads, ΔIOTPEΦOYΣ in two lines, AΠA to left, two flutes to right. BMC 16; SNG Copenhagen 153. 12.24gr, 26mm, 12h.
Very Fine. Exceedingly rare; only one other example on CoinArchives (Roma, E-89, 448).
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
Very Fine. Exceedingly rare; only one other example on CoinArchives (Roma, E-89, 448).
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
Rare Aspendian 'Wrestlers'
Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
Two wrestlers beginning to grapple with each other, the one on the left grasping his opponent's wrist and upper arm; AͶ between / EΣTFEΔΙΙΥΣ, slinger striding to right, preparing to launch his sling-bolt; clockwise triskeles to right field. SNG BnF 85 var. (AM). 10.84gr, 22mm, 6h.
Near Extremely Fine. Wonderful old cabinet tone. Very rare variety.
From a private collection, London.
Near Extremely Fine. Wonderful old cabinet tone. Very rare variety.
From a private collection, London.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,040
Baaltars seated to left on persian diphros, his body turned to front, holding eagle, ear of corn and bunch of grapes in right hand, lotus-headed sceptre in left; Aramaic legend 'BLTRZ' (Baaltars) to right, Aramaic 'TR' to left; beneath throne, Aramaic 'M' / Lion attacking bull to left, Aramaic legend 'MZDI' (Mazaios) above; monogram below. Casabonne series 2, group C; SNG Levante 106; SNG von Aulock -; BMC 49 var. (no monogram). 10.89gr, 23mm, 1h.
Extremely Fine. Sharply struck example on lustrous metal.
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
Extremely Fine. Sharply struck example on lustrous metal.
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
New Finding for Tavium of Galatia
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Struck under Brogitaros. Laureate head of Zeus to right / TAYIΩN, eagle alighting to right on thunderbolt, wings spread, sceptre with diadem behind shoulder; piloi of Dioscuri surmounted by star flanking; monogram of MHTP or MATP in right field. Arslan, Pessinus ve Tavium 48 var. (no monogram and sceptre); SNG von Aulock 6237 var. (same); SNG Tübingen 4599 var. (same); HGC 7, 772 var. (same). For the style, the sceptre and the monogram see the silver Tetradrachm of Brogitaros (SNG BnF 2336; HGC 7, 777). 8.54gr, 22mm, 12h.
Near Extremely Fine. Exceedingly rare and possibly unique. This coin published at www.wildwinds.com (wwxls BC11119; TLA 76450).
Ex property of a UK gallery, circa 2016.
The sceptre behind the eagle on reverse is a symbol, which was regularly given by the Senate to client-kings for their elevated position. The sceptre with this monogram link the bronze issue with the royal silver of Brogitaros.
Near Extremely Fine. Exceedingly rare and possibly unique. This coin published at www.wildwinds.com (wwxls BC11119; TLA 76450).
Ex property of a UK gallery, circa 2016.
The sceptre behind the eagle on reverse is a symbol, which was regularly given by the Senate to client-kings for their elevated position. The sceptre with this monogram link the bronze issue with the royal silver of Brogitaros.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
Mint A; struck circa 114/3-109/8 BC. In the name and types of Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes). Diademed head of Antiochos VII to right / Athena Nikephoros standing to left, resting hand on shield and spear under arm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟY to right, EYEPΓETOY to left, monogram of ΔΙ above A in outer left field; all within wreath. Krengel Series 2; SC 2146.5. 16.47gr, 29mm, 12h.
Good Very Fine. Small die break on cheek.
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Good Very Fine. Small die break on cheek.
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Mint A (Eusebeia-Mazaka). Dated RY 7 (57/56 BC). Diademed head of Ariobarzanes to right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ APIOBAPZANO ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ; Athena Nikephoros standing to left; in exergue, Z (date). Simonetta 1; HGC 7, 851. 3.61gr, 19mm, 12h.
Good Very Fine. Die break on obverse, double struck on reverse.
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Good Very Fine. Die break on obverse, double struck on reverse.
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
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2113 - 2124 of 3130 LOTS
2113 - 2124 of 3130 LOTS
