Roman Imperial Coins

Lot # 203 - Egypt. Alexandria. Vitellius, 69. Tetradrachm (Billon, 25.44 mm, 12.24 g). Dated RY 1 = AD 69. ΩΛOY OYIT KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEPM AYT Laureate head right. Rev. Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm frond; L A, date, in left field. Dattari 340. RPC I, 5372. Emmett 196. Geissen 260.2. BMC 218. K&G 19.1. Cfr. Savio, "Tetradrammi alessandrini", pp. 62-63. Rare. Very Fine. Ex Numismatik Naumann GmbH, Auction 88, 05.04.2020, lot 559. Vitellius during his brief reign (April-December 69 AD) never set foot in Egypt where his monetary issues cover a time lapse of slightly more than two months, since that, Vespasian, his successor, was declared Emperor just in Alexandria on the first July of that year, beginning immediately to striking coins. Tetradrachm of excellent style both on the sovereign’s bust and on the fluttering Nike that here takes on a pathetic meaning given the imminent tragic fate reserved for Vitellius.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 202 - Egypt. Alexandria. Otho, 15 January – mid April 69. Obol. (Bronze, 19.17 mm, 4.30 g). Dated RY 1 = AD 69. [ΜΑΡΚ ΟΘ] ΩΝ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕ [Β ΑΥΤ] Laureate head right. Rev. Canopic jar of Osiris right and date, L A, to right. Dattari-Savio 331 var. (obverse legend). RPC I 5371. Emmett 192 (2). BMC 216. Very Rare. Very Fine. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 66, 09.01.2020, lot 704. Otho is also remembered for having been the husband of Poppaea Sabina in 58 AD, who in 62 AD became Nero's first wife. This very rare obol is the coin of minimal module minted by Otho in Alexandria and despite some slight imperfections in the beating, the engraving must be considered of a well-finished style, especially in the portrait on the obverse which denotes a physiognomic research.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 201 - Egypt. Alexandria. Otho, 15 January – mid April 69. Tetradrachm. (Billon, 23.80 mm, 13.51 g). Dated RY = AD 69. [AYTO K M]APK OΘΩNOΣ KAI [Σ ΣEB] Laureate head right and date, L A, below chin. Rev. PΩ MH Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Roma right, holding spear and shield. Dattari-Savio 330. Geissen 250-1. K&G 18.9. RPC I 5362. Emmett 186. Toned, portraits of nice style, Good Very Fine. Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd. Auction 80, 02.04.2023, lot 336. Otho’s reign lasted only three months, from January to April AD 69. His portrait on this tetradrachm is conventional and not physiognomic but with a certain elegance that can also be found on the bust of the goddess Roma on the reverse that recalls the one that appears on the previous no. 200 of the collection and indicates the affirmation of the centrality of the empire. Coin in better condition than known ones of the same type.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 200 - Egypt. Alexandria. Galba, 68-69. Tetradrachm. (Billon, 24.5 mm, 13.94 g). Year 1 = 9 June-28 August 68. ΛOYK ΛIB ΣOYL [P ΓALBA KAIΣ ΣEB AY] Laureate head right; in front, date LA. Rev. PΩMH Helmeted cuirassed bust of Roma with spear and shield right. Dattari 314. Geissen 223. RPC I, 5330. Emmett 174. Attractive old cabinet tone, Good Extremely Fine. Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd., Auction 57, 25.04.2020, lot 284. Tetradrachm of warranted rarity as it was minted in the very short first Egyptian year of Galba's reign, which lasted less than three months in AD 68. A coin that is complete and centred in the images and slightly narrow in the legends, but of splendid conservation and with a fascinating old collection patina. The portrait of Galba on the obverse is of high quality and preservation: apparently severe and strong-willed, though in reality as ordinary as the undiplomatic character of the elderly senator and ruler, who was killed by the Praetorians on 15 January AD 69.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 199 - Egypt. Alexandria. Nero, 54-68. Tetradrachm. (Bronze, 25.51 mm, 12.90 g). Year 14 = AD 67/8. ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑY ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΕΡ [ΑYTO] Laureate head right. Rev. Agathodaemon serpent coiled right, surrounded by poppies and grain ears; at sides, date L IΔ across fields. RPC I -. Emmett -. Dattari-Savio 6647 (this specimen). Extremely Rare, probably unicum as regards the year. Very fine. Ex Münz Zentrum IV/77, lot 79. Tetradrachm issued by Nero during his last year of reign. Agathodaemon serpent on the reverse is well-wishing to the emperor, contrary to his tragic fate on 9 June 68 AD when he ‘committed suicide’. The absence of inventory references other than that of Dattari-Savio and its prestigious certificate of provenance confirm its status as the only known specimen.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 198 - Egypt. Alexandria. Nero, 54-68. Tetradrachm. (Billon, 23.80 mm, 13.57 g). Year 13 = AD 66/7. [NE]PΩ KLAY – K [AIƩ ƩEB ΓEP AY]. Radiate head of Nero with aegis left and date [LIΓ]. Rev. ΘEOΣ ΣEBAΣTOΣ Radiate head of Divus Augustus right. Dattari-Savio 184. Geissen 177-180. RPC I 5294. Emmett 113 (4). BMC 112. Milne 25. Rare. Near Extremely Fine. Ex Naville Numismatics, Auction 82, 18.06.2023, lot 306. A coin similar to no. 197 in the collection but apparently and strangely undated so its issuing to the year L IΓ = 13 is only surmised. This is therefore an element for its rarity, which is even more marked by its superb state of preservation on both sides.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 197 - Egypt. Alexandria. Nero, 54-68. Tetradrachm. (Billon, 24.87 mm, 13.15 g). Regnal year 13 = AD 66/7. NEPΩ KLAY – K [AIƩ ƩEB ΓEP AY]. Radiate head to left with aegis and date LIG to left in the field. Rev. ΘEOΣ ΣEBAΣTOΣ Radiate head of Divus Augustus to right. Dattari-Savio 184. Geissen 177-180. RPC I 5294. BMC 112. Milne 251. Emmett 119. Rare. Fine dark toning, Good Very Fine. Ex Kölner Münzkabinett, Auction 115, 29.10.2021, lot 199. Tetradrachm celebrating the Julio-Claudian imperial dynasty of which Nero was the last exponent. The obverse with Nero's radiated bust to the left matches to the reverse with the radiated head to right of the divine Augustus, his ancestor on his mother's side. A commonly circulated coin but rare in our specimen for its excellent conservation.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 196 - Egypt. Alexandria. Agrippina II (wife of Claudius). Diobol. (Bronze, 26 mm, 8.71 g). Regnal year 12 of Claudius = AD 51/2. AΓPIΠΠINA CЄBACTH Draped bust right crowned with ears of corn. Rev. ЄYΘH NIA Draped bust of Euthenia right and date, L IB, in the field at sides of the bust. Emmett 103. RPC 5188. Dattari-Savio 178. Excellent for the type, Very Fine. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction 66, 09.01.2020, lot 702. Julia Agrippina ‘Minor’ was, after Messalina, the fourth and last wife of Claudius I, as well as the mother of Nero, who was fathered by the consul Gnaeus Domitius Enobarbo. Her portrait on the obverse of this diobol is physiognomic and accurately styled, well emphasised by the original reddish-brown patina that uniformly covers the entire coin. The empress is here assimilated on the reverse to Euthenia, goddess of Abundance, godmother and bride of the Nile as well as symbol of agricultural prosperity.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 195 - Egypt. Alexandria. Claudius, 41-54. Obol (Bronze, 19.5 mm, 3.89 g). Regnal year 10 = 49/50. [ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙ] [CEΒΑC ΓΕΡΜ] Laureate head of Claudius to right. Rev. AYT KPA Right hand holding left two ears of grain and three poppies, below at sides of the bunch, L I. BMC 104. Dattari 151. RPC I 5184. Cf. Geissen 95. Emmett 89. Dark brown patina, Very fine. Ex Classic Numismatic Group Inc., Sale XXXI, 9-10.09. 1994, lot 1352: “An interesting piece, the portrait on this obol resembles Nero more than it does Claudius. With the blundered reverse legend (the obverse legend is mostly off the flan), it is possibly a contemporary counterfeit. Perhaps it was issued during the reign of Nero to offset an acute shortage of bronze, minor coinage (all bronzes of Nero are rare as the Alexandrian mint produced mostly billon during his reign).”

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Astarte 24

Lot # 194 - Egypt. Alexandria. Claudius, 41-54. Tetradrachm (Billon, 25 mm, 12.35 g). RY 3 = AD 42/3. ΤΙ ΚΛΑYΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑYΤΟΚ Laureate head of Claudius right, below date, LΓ at right. Rev. ΜΕΣΣΑΛΙΝΑ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ Messalina standing front, head turned left, leaning left arm on column, holding two children in her right hand and grain ears in her left. Dattari 123. Geissen 75. RPC I 5131. Emmett 74. Nicely toned. Minor flan fault on the reverse, otherwise, Very Fine. Ex Leu Numismatik, Web Auktion 11, 22-23.02.2020, lot 1535. A relatively common type of coin, always found much circulated. Our specimen is well centred and of excellent conservation with very pronounced image relief and clear definition of all details. This tetradrachm is part of the family and dynastic propaganda policy promoted by Claudius I. Valeria Messalina, depicted on the reverse, was his third wife and mother of Claudia Octavia (who later married Nero) and of Britannicus, who can be identified in the two small human figures emerging from the palm of the empress' right hand. Messalina is represented here in the guise of the divine Demeter, protector of agriculture and grain and guardian of the cycle of the seasons.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 193 - Egypt. Alexandria. Tiberius, 14-37. Obol (Bronze, 19.89 mm, 4.50 g). Dated RY 5 = AD 18/9. Bare head of Tiberius right. Rev. ΤΙΒΕΡΙΟΥ Hippopotamus right, date LE, under the exergual line. Vogt I, pp. 20-21. Vogt II, p. 3. BMC 57-58. Dattari 101. RPC I, 5082. Emmett 62. Cf. Storoni Mazzolani Lidia, “Tiberio o la spirale del potere”, Milano, 1981. Attractive dark brown patina, Very Fine. Ex Numismatica Aretusa SA Lugano, Franco Chiesa, 1985. Tiberius in Alexandria minted several coins in a mixture of silver but in bronze he limited himself in his early regnal years to issuing minimal numerals with portraits such as our obol dated L E = 5th year of his reign (18-19 A.D.). In the portrait on the obverse, it is confirmed the rule of rewarding the perennially young appearance of the emperor, expressly named on the reverse where is the first depiction of the hippopotamus proliferating in the sacred and fertilizing waters of the Nile. Coin of very good conservation and with a splendid original shiny chocolate brown patina.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 192 - Egypt. Alexandria. Augustus, 27 BC - 14 AD. Diobol. (Bronze, 24.5 mm, 7.96 g). Regnal year 41 = AD 11/2. Laureate head right. Rev. Nike standing, facing left, holding wreath and palm frond; date L MA across lower field. Emmett 35 var. (Nike to left). Dattari-Savio 28. Geissen 30. K&G 2.50. RPC I 5062. Dark brown patina, scratches on reverse, Very Fine. Ex CNG E-Auction 463, 11.03.2020, lot 245. After having presented a copy of the first Egyptian issue of Augustus in the previous no. 191 of the collection, we are here chronologically faced with one of his last Alexandrian coins. It is in fact an anepigraphic bronze obol dated to the year L MA = 41 of August reign in Egypt (11-12 AD) and a very well preserved coin that has a beautiful portrait of the emperor on the obverse, always taken at a young age while he was then 74 years old: but this is a constant of his depictions in every field, from coins to sculptures, as if to demonstrate, with the horror of senility, the perennial vitality of the sovereign holding the empire.

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Astarte 24

Lot # 191 - Egypt. Alexandria. Augustus (Octavian), 27 BC – 14 AD. 80 Drachm. (Bronze, 25.96 mm, 17.76 g). First series struck circa 30-27 BC. Bare head right, [ΘEO] Y [YIOY] to either side. Rev. KAICAPOC AYTOKPATOP[OC] Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; double cornucopia before and Π behind. Dattari 2. Geissen 1. BMC 1/2. RPC I 5001. Emmett 1. Brown patina with some light scratches but better than usual for this normally crude issue. Near Very Fine. Ex CNG, Auction 47, Mail Bid Sale, 16.09.1998, lot 997. Ex Joel L. Malter Auction XLV, 28-29 May 1991, lot 261. This bronze coin belongs to the first series minted by Augustus between 30 and 27 BC in the Alexandria mint after the conquest of Egypt and the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC. As can be seen in comparison with no. 189 in the collection, the portrait of the new ruler fully repeats the form and nominal value of the last coins issued by Cleopatra. The style of the Augustan portrait is distinctive and quite realistic, serious but serene. Historically important specimen as the progenitor of the glorious autonomous Alexandrian imperial coinage. With this issue Augustus inaugurates the ‘republican monarchy’ of the Julio-Claudian dynasty in Egypt.

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Canusina listino 2026

Lot # 5458 - Hadrian. Denarius. 130-133 AD. Rome. (Ric-II. 3 1502). (Bmcre-824). (Rsc-154). Anv.: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head to right. Rev.: ALEXANDRIA, Alexandria standing left, holding sistrum and snake in basket.

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Canusina listino 2026

Lot # 9580 - Roman Provincial Syria, Nero ? AE Bronze 22,7 mm. 14,4 g. Obv: laureate head right. Rev: S C within laurel wreath.

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Canusina listino 2026

Lot # 5070 - Claudius (41-54). AE Sestertius. Contemporary imitation of a Roman mint ?, 42-43. Obv. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM T R P IMP. Laureate head right. Rev. SPES AVGVSTA SC. Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt. AE. 17,46 g. 32.5 mm. Rare. VF.

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Canusina listino 2026

Lot # 5894 - Constantine I The Great (307/310-337) AE follis, Ticinum, 317-318. gr 3,51. mm 24,1 x 20,6 Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol radiate standing left, holding globe; ST in exergue. Ref: RIC 67.

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