The U.S. & Ancients Coinage Auction
October 2, 2000

Ancient Greek Coins

Lot 51 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Kings of Persis. Autophradates, c. 2nd century BC. AR Drachm (4.1 g). Diademed bust of king right. Reverse: Altar with bust of Ahura-Mazda, flanked by king and bird on pedestal. Alram 561; BMC 213, 9. Lightly toned, and pleasing for issue. Extremely Fine. Scarce.
Estimated Value $225-325.

Lot 52 Click on Picture to Enlarge
Kings of Persis, 2nd century BC - 1st century AD. Lot of seven AR coins. Group of 6 drachms and 1 hemidrachm, comprised of various kings and dates. Included are: Darev I and II, Atexerxes II, and Vashir. Some toned, some choice. A very fine group overall, and worth competitive bidding. Very Fine to Extremely Fine on average.
Estimated Value $500-UP.

Lot 53 Click on Picture to Enlarge
Kings of Persis, c. 2nd-1st century BC. Lot of two AR obols. Earliest, Darev I: head of king right, with satrapal cap; on reverse, altar with bust of Ahura-Mazda, flanked by king and bird on pedestal. BMC 211, 11. Also, Pakur: diademed head left; retrograde triskeles, blundered legend. Cf. SNG Cop. 268. First with excellent metal. The second toned. Very Fine or better. Both scarce.
Estimated Value $200-250.

Lot 54 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Parthian Kings. Phraates II, 138-127 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.7 g). Diademed bust right, with short beard. Reverse: Bearded male deity, with kalathos, enthroned left, holding cornucopia and Nike, who crowns him to right. SGC 7347; Sell. 17.1 var (order of monograms reversed). Cleaned, the metal slightly porous with a few minor areas of roughness toward edge. Handsome portrait, the quality worthy of it's Seleucid contemporaries. Choice Very Fine. Very rare! .
Estimated Value $4,000-5,000.

Choice Quality Tetradrachm of Mithradates II

Lot 55 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Parthian Kings. Mithradates II, 123-88 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.1g). His diademed and cuirassed bust facing left with long beard. Reverse: Archer seated on omphalos, holding bow with legend around. S-7365; Sel. 24/3. Excellent metal and well struck, toned. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.

Lot 56 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Parthian Kings. Mithradates II, 123-88 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.7 g). Diademed bust left, with medium long beard. Reverse: Archer seated right, on omphalos, within square formed by legend; palm to right. Sell. 24.3. Lustrous and of choice style, front and back. Superb Extremely Fine. A beautiful example! .
Estimated Value $1,000-1,500.

Lot 57
Parthian Kings. Parthamaspates, c. 116 AD. AR drachm (3.6 g). Diademed bust of king left, wearing ornamented tiara. Reverse: Archer seated right, within square formed by legend. Sel. 81.1. Choice Very Fine. Scarce.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 58
Parthian Kings. Osroes II, 190 AD. Lot of four AR drachms. All with bust of king wearing tiara left; reverse with archer seated right, within square formed by legend. Sel. 85. Good lot. Extremely Fine or better.
Estimated Value $175-225.

Lot 59 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Parthian Kings. Osroes II, 190 AD. AR drachm (3.1 g). Bust of king wearing tiara left. Reverse: Archer seated right, within square formed by legend. Sel. 85 var. Lightly toned. Choice Very Fine. Very rare variant. Vertical left line of legend wholly different than typically seen. This version seemingly unpublished.
Estimated Value $500-UP.

Lot 60
Parthian Kings, 2nd century BC - 2nd century AD. Lot of six AR drachms. Coins of six different kings. All of usual type, with portrait bust right or left, and wearing tiara or diadem. Reverses with archer seated right, within square formed by legend. Included are: Mithridates II, Gotarzes I, Vardanes I, and others. Good lot. Very Fine to Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 61 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Sasanian Kings. Shapur II, 309-379 AD. Gold Dinar (7.2 g), Kabul mint. Bust of Shapur right, wearing crenellated crown. Reverse: Fire altar with lion-footed supports on elaborate spindle-like bases. Mitch. 870; cf. Göbl 124 (Ardashir II). Obverse struck from rusted die; flan a little wavy. Nearly Extremely Fine. Rare and interesting.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.

Lot 62 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Indo-Greek Kings of Bactria. Eukratides I, c. 171-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.8 g). Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: The Dioskouroi holding palms and lances, on horses right; monogram below. Bopearachi Série 6W; Mitch. 177f. Cleaned. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $400-500.

Lot 63 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Indo-Greek Kings of Bactria. Eukratides, c. 170-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.9 g). Helmeted, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: The Dioskouroi, holding lances, on horses right. Mitch. 177e; Bopearachi Série 6f. Lustrous, with good metal. Choice! Mint State.
Estimated Value $950-1,150.

Lot 64 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Indo-Greek Kings of Bactria. Eukratides, 170-145 BC. AR Drachm (4.1 g). Diademed and draped bust right. Reverse: The Dioskouroi holding palms and lances, on horses right. Mitch. 196b var. Some surface scratches on obverse. About Very Fine.
Estimated Value $100-150.

Lot 65 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Indo-Greek Kings of Bactria. Antialkidas, c. 115-95 BC. AR Drachm (2.4 g). Draped bust of Antialkidas right, wearing kausia. Reverse: Zeus enthroned frontal, holding scepter and Nike, which crowns elephant at left. SNG Cop. 319. Deeply toned, sharp strike. Interesting style. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $100-150.

Lot 66 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Egypt. Ptolemy II, 285-246 BC. Gold Oktadrachm (27.66g). Diademed veiled head of Arsinoe II right, I behind. Reverse: Filleted double-cornucopiae, dotted border. SNG Cop. 134v. Some signs of light burnishing. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,500.

Lot 67 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Cyrenaica. Cyrene, 470-440 BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.8 g). Silphium plant. Reverse: Head of Zeus-Ammon right, with partially curled beard, ethnic to right. Cf. BMC xxxvii, 43a, 43d. Toned, the metal somewhat granular, but with truly elegant late archaic portrait. About Fine/About Very Fine. Very rare.
Estimated Value $600-800.

Lot 68 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Siculo-Punic, c. 320-300 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.9 g). Wreathed head of Persephone left, four dolphins in field around. Reverse: Head of horse three-quarters left, palm tree behind; below, Punic inscription: "People of the Camp." SNG Cop. 980 (possibly same obv. die). Cleaned, the obverse slightly off center. Some roughness to areas of the back and to the edges. Choice Extremely Fine/Nearly Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.

Lot 69 Click on Picture to EnlargeClick on Picture to Enlarge
Siculo-Punic, c. 300-289 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.0 g). Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin. Reverse: Head of horse three-quarters left, palm tree behind; below, Punic inscription: "People of the Camp." Cf. Jenkins, SNR 57, 306. Pleasant light toning. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $750-1,000.