Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8

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Ancient Coins

Greek Coins

Lot 2895 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Aegina. Aegina, c. 525-500 BC. AR Stater (11.9 g). Top view of sea turtle. Reverse: Early "Union Jack" incuse punch. SNG Delepierre 1512; Price & Waggoner 441. Deep old collection toning. Fine or better.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 2896 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Aegina. Aegina, 457-431 BC. AR Stater (12.1 g). Top view of land tortoise with segmented shell. Reverse: Refined skew punch. SNG Delepierre 1535ff. Countermark at middle of shell; sunburst countermark in lower field. An especially refined, handsome depiction of this animal. Attractive toning. A pleasing Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $500-650.

Lot 2897 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Aegina. Aegina, c. 457-431 BC. AR Stater (12.2 g). Top view of land tortoise with segmented shell. Reverse: Skew punch of five compartments. SNG Delepierre 1535ff. Deep old cabinet toning. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $350-450.

Lot 2898 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Corinthia. Corinth, c. 350-338 BC. AR Stater (8.4 g). Pegasus flying left, koppa below. Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena left. Old toning with areas of blue iridescence. Struck on compact flan with no visible symbols on reverse.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 2899 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Arcadia. Arcadian League, c. 280-234 BC. AR Triobol (2.3 g). Laureate head of Zeus Lykaios left. Reverse: Pan seated left on rock, hand raised, eagle before. BMC Peloponnesus, p. 176, 76-77; SNG Cop. 195. Lightly iridescent old collection toning. Nice Fine.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 2900 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Crete. Cnossus, c. 350-250 BC. AR Drachm (5.2 g). Head of Hera left, wearing decorated stephanos. Reverse: Square labyrinth, A and R at sides, ethnic below. SNG Cop. 374. With old iridescent cabinet toning. The labyrinth showing die breaks. Nice Fine.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Rare.

Lot 2901 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Mysia. Kyzikos, c. 460-400 BC. Electrum Hekte (2.6 g). Man-headed bull in three-quarters profile left, head frontal; tunny fish below. Reverse: Quadripart incuse square. SNG von Aulock 7302; Fritze 125; Rosen 501. Sharply struck, with the musculature finely detailed. Head partly off flan. Extremely Fine. Scarce type.
Estimated Value $350-450.

Lot 2902 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Mysia. Kyzikos, c. 460-400 BC. Electrum 1/12th Stater (1.4 g). Nude youth kneeling left, holding tunny fish. Reverse: Quadripart incuse square. SNG von Aulock 1202; Fritze 112. Sharp, clean strike. Small banker's mark at obverse right field. Pleasing Very Fine.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 2903 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Mysia. Kyzikos, 350-30 BC. AR Tetrobol (3.1 g). Head of Kore Soteira, hair veiled with two ears of corn protruding. Reverse: Head of roaring lion left, tunny fish below; ethnic at right and above. SNG von Aulock 1223. Deeply toned. Very Fine. Scarce.
Estimated Value $250-300.

Lot 2904
Aeolia. Cyme, 3rd century AD. Quasi-Autonomous Issue, AE 23 mm. Draped bust right, personifying the Roman Senate. Reverse: Isis Pelagia standing on galley right, holding inflated sail. BMC Aeolis, p. 116, 116. Dark brown to green patina. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $60-90.

Lot 2905 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Lesbos, Island of. c. 500 BC. Billon Stater (14.0 g). Gorgoneion facing. Reverse: Incuse punch. SNG von Aulock 7711 (same reverse die); SNG Cop. 284. Deep old collection toning. Nice Fine. Very rare. Fine, snarling characterization.
Estimated Value $500-600.

Lot 2906 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Lesbos. Mytilene, c. 450-400 BC. Electrum Hekte (2.5 g). Laureate head of Apollo right. Reverse: Head of bearded goat right, within incuse square. SNG von Aulock 1698; Bodenstedt 59. Very Fine. Scarce.
Estimated Value $350-400.

Lot 2907 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Ionia. Erythrai, c. early 5th century BC. AR Drachm (4.5 g). Erythros, nude, standing left, restraining horse. Reverse: Rosette in incuse square, ethnic around. SNG von Aulock 1944. Toned, in excellent late archaic style. Nice Fine. Scarce.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 2908 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Ionia. Magnesia ad Meandrum, c. 350-300 BC. AR Octobol (7.0 g). Armed rider, holding lance, on horse prancing right. Reverse: Bull butting left, ethnic above, magistrate's name below (Diopeithes, or Diogeithes) all within circular meander border. SNG Von Aulock --; SNG Cop. --; BMC Ionia --. Unpublished magistrate? Cf. CNG Auction 51, lot no. 417, this name but misspelled in entry. Bold strike, the obverse artistic, but slightly off-center. Toned. Choice Very Fine. Rare.
Estimated Value $500-600.

Lot 2909 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Lydia. Uncertain King, before 561 BC. Electrum 1/3 Stater/Trite (4.7 g). Head of roaring lion right, knobby wart on forehead. Reverse: Double incuse punch. Weidauer 86-89; Rosen 655-656. Slight reddish toning. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $700-900.

Lot 2910 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Lydia. Kings of Lydia. Time of Kroisos, c. 561-546 BC. AR Half Stater-Siglos (5.3 g). Confronted foreparts of lion and bull. Reverse: Double incuse punch. Rosen 663-665; SNG von Aulock 2875ff. Old collection example, in good metal and fine style. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 2911 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Lydia. Sardes. Time of Kroisos, 560-546 BC. AR Half Stater, or Siglos (5.4 g). Foreparts of confronted lion and bull. Reverse: Two rough incuse squares. BMC Lydia, 41 ff.; SNG von Aulock 2877 ff. Lightly toned and well centered and struck, with virtually complete devices on flan. Extremely Fine. A particularly fine example of this popular type.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,200.

Lot 2912 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Caria. Cnidus, c. 465-449 BC. AR Drachm (6.2 g). Forepart of roaring lion right. Reverse: Head of Aphrodite right, hair in queue, ethnic around, all within incuse square. BMC Caria, p. 85, nos. 11-12; SNG Cop. 235ff. Deep old collection toning. The lion better struck than typical, the whole on quite decent metal. Nearly Extremely Fine. Very pleasing.
Estimated Value $400-500.

Lot 2913
Cilicia, Tarsos. Mazaios 361-334 BC. AR Stater (10.93g). Baal of Tarsos seated left, head facing, holding eagle, wheat ear and grapes, legend to right, all within circle of dots. Reverse: Lion attacking bull left, Aramaic legend above. SNG Levante 103. Minor planchet flaw on chest of Baal. Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $325-475.

Lot 2914 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Cilicia. Tarsos, Uncertain Satrap, 4th century BC. AR Obol (0.6 g). Ba'altars enthroned left, holding scepter, in extended hand bunch of grapes and ear of barley. Reverse: Forepart of wolf left, horizontal lunar crescent above, all within square border of dots. Cf. Weber Coll. III, pl. II, no. 7637. Attractive old toning.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 2915 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Cyprus. Kition, Baalram(?), c. 400-392 BC. AR Third Stater (3.2 g). Naked Herakles, with lion's skin, advancing right, brandishing club and bow; ankh in right field. Reverse: Lion bringing down stag right, Aramaic inscription above, all within incuse square with dotted border. Cf. BMC Cyprus p. 20, no. 71. On tight module, inscription not discernable. With nice old collection toning. About Very Fine. Scarce.
Estimated Value $150-200.

Lot 2916
Syria (Seleucid Kingdom). Antiochos I Soter, 280-261 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Diademed head of Antiochos right / Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow. Also, Antiochos VI, 145-142 BC., Serrated AE 21: Radiate and diademed head right / elephant left holding torch. Lastly, Antiochos VII, 138-129 BC., AR Tetradrachm, Tyre mint, of 131/130 BC: Draped and diademed bust right / Eagle standing left on beak of galley, club at left. Lot of 3 coins. All pleasantly toned; the Antiochos I portrait quite good. Nice Fine.
Estimated Value $200-250.

Lot 2917
Syria. Antioch, under the Romans, c. 31-17 BC. Posthumous Philip I AR Tetradrachm, dated 21 BC. Diademed head of Philip Philadelphus right. Reverse: Zeus enthroned left, holding Nike and scepter; monogram at left, in exergue, ThK. RPC 4145. Also, an AR Tetradrachm of Ptolemy X, 117-81 BC. Diademed bust of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis. Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, date at left (111 BC.). BMC Egypt, p.105, 19. Lot of 2 coins. Both toned, the first deeply so. Very Fine, the first perhaps better.
Estimated Value $175-250.

Lot 2918 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Coele-Syria. Chalcis. Zenodorus, c. 32-25 BC. AE 21 mm., dated Year 282, 32/31 BC. Bare head of Octavian right, date around. Reverse: Head of Zenodorus left, Greek inscription around. RPC 4774. Dark brown patina on good metal, with orichalcum highlights. An attractive example. Choice Very Fine. Rare.
Estimated Value $300-400.

Lot 2919 Click on photo for enlarged version Click on photo for enlarged version
Phoenicia. Tyre, AR Tetradrachm (14.2 g), struck 79/78 BC. Laureate head of Melqarth right. Reverse: Eagle standing left on prow, club and palm branch in field; Year 48 at left. BMC Phoenicia, p. 140 var. Boldly struck and nicely centered, with russet and coppery toning in the recesses. Extremely Fine plus.
Estimated Value $450-650.

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