ROMAN. Le preziose patine dei sesterzi di Roma imperiale (The Superb Patinas of the Sestertii of Imperial Rome). Elio Biaggi (Italy, 1992). Large format colour plate book, 300 pages illustrating 735 Roman sestertii in full colour, bilingual in Italian and English, hardbound in black leatherette with slipcase. A striking and highly useful visual reference devoted to the remarkable patinas found on Roman imperial sestertii, illustrating the full range of surfaces from so called Tiber patinas to deep greens, reds, and related cabinet tones across the series from Augustus to Postumus. Especially valuable for collectors and specialists interested in bronze surfaces, eye appeal, and comparative study, it remains an impressive plate work and an increasingly desirable reference in its own right. An example appeared in CNG Auction 410, lot 742, hammering at $360 excluding the buyer?s fee. Covers with light wear and shelf dust, spine fading, showing age and use; slipcase with light handling wear, overall the book is in VG condition. From the personal reference library of David Allen, a well known numismatist, formed over more than 50 years and used as a long term reference for research, attribution, and catalogue work.

Estimate: AUD 300