Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 2949
Judea. Bar Kochba Revolt,
132-135 AD. AE Middle Bronze (22 mm.), Year 3 (undated). 134/135 AD.
Palm branch within wreath; Hebrew around ("For the freedom of Jerusalem").
Reverse: Lyre with three strings; Hebrew around ("Simon"). Hendin 735;
Mildenberg 33 var. (reverse die not clashed). Dark brown-green patina, with
earthen highlights. On compact module. Attractive example. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Lot 2950
Judea. Bar Kochba Revolt,
132-135 AD. AE Middle Bronze (22 mm.), Year 3 (undated). 134/135 AD.
Seven-branched palm tree with two date clusters; Hebrew across field below
("Simon"). Reverse: Vine leaf on tendril; Hebrew around ("For the
freedom of Jerusalem"). Hendin 736 var.; cf. Mildenberg 100 for reverse, 109
for obverse. Black-green patina, with earthen highlights. On very compact
module. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 2951
Judea. Bar Kochba Revolt,
132-135 AD. AE 25, Year Three, c. 134/135 AD. Palm tree, Hebrew inscription
across field. Reverse: Vine leaf, Hebrew inscription around: "For the
freedom of Jerusalem." Hendin 736; Mildenberg 322, 115. Dark green-black
patina, with brassy and earthen highlights. Very Fine.
Estimated
Value $150-200.
Lot 2952
Judea. Bar Kochba Revolt,
132-135 AD. AE Small Bronze (19 mm.), Year 3 (undated). 134/135 AD.
Seven-branched palm tree; Hebrew across field below ("Simon").
Reverse: Bunch of grapes hanging from short branch; Hebrew around ("For
the freedom of Jerusalem"). Hendin 739 var.; Mildenberg 160. Dark green patina
with earthen highlights. Choice Very Fine, or a bit better.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 2953
Judea. Bar Kochba Revolt.
132-135 AD. AE Small Bronze (19 mm), Year 3 (undated). Palm tree, legend
across field. Reverse: Grape bunch, legend around. Mild. 158; Hen. 739.
Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 2954
Judea. Aelia Capitolina.
Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD. AE 22 mm., after 141 AD. Laureate head of
Antoninus Pius right. Reverse: Diademed and veiled head of deified
Faustina right. Meshorer 27. Black-green patina with earthen highlights. With
appealing portraits. Choice Very Fine. Rare.
Estimated Value
$500-600.
Lot 2955
Judea. Aelia Capitolina.
Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD. AE 23 mm. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust
of Antoninus Pius right. Reverse: Draped bust of Tyche right, wearing
mural crown. Meshorer 21; SNG ANS 598. Dark gray-green patina, with flecks of
red and brown, and earthen highlights. Quality provincial portraits. Choice
Very Fine. Rare and attractive.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 2956
Judea. Aelia Capitolina.
Marcus Aurelius, 161-180 AD. AE 28 mm. Draped, bareheaded bust of Aurelius
right. Reverse: Serapis enthroned left, holding scepter, Kerberos at
feet. Rosenberger I, 28; Mesh. 45. Deep gray-green patina, with earthen
highlights. Fine. Rare.
Estimated Value $600-700.
Lot 2957
Judea. Aelia Capitolina.
Elagabalus, 218-222 AD. AE 24 mm. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of
Elagabalus right. Reverse: Stone of Emessa in quadriga facing.
Rosenberger I, p. 13, 78; BMC Palestine, p. 97, 85. Deep green and olive patina
with earthen highlights. Very Good. Rare.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Lot 2958
Judea. Gadara. Gordian
III, 238-244 AD. AE 20 mm., struck 239/240 AD. Radiate head of Gordian
right, drapery at shoulder. Reverse: The Three Graces, standing to back
or at profile, arms linked, Year 303. Spijkerman, Decapolis, p. 152, 91.
Deep green and olive patina with earthen highlights. Good Very Fine.
Pleasing example of this popular reverse type.
Estimated Value
$200-250.
Lot 2959
Judea. Gaza. Augustus, 27
BC-14 AD. AE 14 mm. Bare head of Augustus right. Reverse: Circular
altar, lit, flanked on either side by GA. Rosenberger II, 45. Dark brown and
green patina, with flecks of red. Choice Very Fine. Rare.
Estimated
Value $250-300.
Lot 2960
Judea. Gaza and Sephoris.
Two City Coins, for Trajan and Lucius Verus, 2nd century AD. Trajan (98-117
AD): Sepphoris, AE 19 mm. Laureate head of Trajan right / Date palm with
eight branches, inscription below (Hendin 907). Lucius Verus (161-169 AD):
Gaza, AE 21 mm. Bare head of Verus right / City goddess standing left
(Rosenberger II, 112). First with dark brown-green patina. Verus sharply
struck, with green patina with earthen highlights. Trajan, Fine/Very Fine.
Verus, a bold Very Fine.
Estimated Value $125-175.
Lot 2961
Judea. Medaba. Geta,
209-212 AD. AE 23 mm. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Geta right.
Reverse: Tetrastyle temple, altar within. Rosenberger IV, 7; Spijkerman
8. Dark green and brown patina, with earthen highlights. Fine to Very Fine.
All coins from this city are quite rare.
Estimated Value $250-350.
Lot 2962
Judea. Neapolis. Commodus,
177-192 AD. AE 17 mm. Draped, bareheaded bust of youthful Commodus right.
Reverse: Trophy of cuirass, shield and spear. Rosenberger III, 9. Glossy
black-green patina with earthen highlights. Very Fine plus. Very rare.
Estimated Value $300-350.
Lot 2963
Judea. Neapolis. Philip I,
244-249 AD. AE 28 mm. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Philip right.
Reverse: Eagle, wings displayed, supports Mt. Gerzaim; at left, Marsyas
stands right, wineskin over his shoulder; ethnic in exergue. Rosenberger III,
p. 17, 77. Green-brown patina, with earthen highlights. About Very Fine.
Estimated Value $400-500.
Lot 2964
Judea. Neapolis.
Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253 AD. AE 24 mm. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed
bust of Gallus right. Reverse: At right, Nemesis stands left towards
column, her hand resting on griffin atop the column; at left, Nike supports Mt.
Gerzaim while advancing right. Rosenberger III, p. 23, 114. Deep green patina
with earthen highlights. Interesting reverse type. About Very Fine.
Scarce.
Estimated Value $300-400.
Lot 2965
Judea. Petra. Lucius
Verus, 161-169 AD, 193-211 AD. AE 23 mm. Laureate and draped bust of Verus
right. Reverse: Tyche seated left upon rocks, holding cornucopia and
small stele. Rosenberger IV, 13 var. (stele absent from Tyche's hand). Dark
brown-green patina, with earthen highlights. Fine to Very Fine.
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2966
Judea. Sebaste. Commodus,
177-192 AD. AE 24 mm. Laureate and draped bust right. Reverse:
Demeter standing right, holding two ears of corn and torch. Rosenberger III, p.
56, 13. Dark green to black patina, with earthen highlights. Flan a little
ragged. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $200-250.
Lot 2967
Judea. Sebaste. Julia
Soaemias, mother of Elagabalus (218-222 AD). AE 23 mm. Draped bust right.
Reverse: Demeter standing right, holding two ears of corn and torch,
filled basket at left (cista mystica?). SNG ANS 1080 (same dies); cf. Meshorer,
City Coins of Eretz Israel, p. 45, no. 119 for type. Dark green patina,
with earthen highlights. Very Fine.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 2968
Judea. Tiberius. Hadrian,
117-138 AD. AE 23 mm. Laureate head of Hadrian right. Reverse: Tyche
standing left, holding scepter and head, foot resting on ship's prow.
Rosenberger III, 13; SNG ANS 1115. Pleasing green to black patina, with touches
of red, and earthen highlights. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value
$200-250.
Lot 2969
Persia. Achaemenid Kings,
c. 500-485 BC. AR Siglos (5.4 g). Persian hero or king kneeling right,
holding spear and bow. Reverse: Rough incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIa,
15. Old collection toning, on good metal. Choice Very Fine. Nice for one
of these.
Estimated Value $100-150.
Lot 2970
Persia. Achaemenid Kings,
c. 475-420 BC. AR Siglos (5.3 g). Persian king or hero right, in
kneeling-running pose, holding spear and bow. Reverse: Incuse punch.
Carradice Type IIIb, 27. Nicely toned. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated
Value $100-125.
Lot 2971
Egypt. Ptolemaic Kingdom.
Ptolemy I, as Satrap, 323-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.7 g), of 310-305 BC.
Head of deified Alexander right, in elephant's skin headdress.
Reverse: Athena Alkidemos, brandishing spear and shield, advancing
right; helmet in right field, eagle below; X-A monogram. Svoronos 162; SNG Cop.
29. Lovely old toning, slightly iridescent. Trivial counterstamp behind
Alexander's eye. Extremely Fine. Sharp strike on good metal. Choice
style.
Estimated Value $500-600.
Lot 2972
Egypt. Ptolemaic Kingdom.
Ptolemy I, as King, 305-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.3 g). By the "Delta"
Master. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis, tiny D behind ear.
Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, at left, P, monogram below.
SNG Cop. 71; Svoronos 255. Very attractive gray toning, with hints of pink and
russet. Extremely Fine. A splendid example.
Estimated Value
$1,000-1,500.
Lot 2973
Egypt. Ptolemaic Kingdom.
Ptolemy I, as King, 305-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (13.5 g), of c. 305-285 BC.
Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis, tiny D behind ear.
Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, RM above monogram. BMC
p.15, 15. With lightly iridescent toning. Some surface roughness, mostly on
reverse. Very Fine. Less common issue for the "Delta Master." .
Estimated Value $150-200.
Lot 2974
Siculo-Punic. Circa
350-320/315 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.6 g). Wreathed head of Arethusa left.
Reverse: Horse, in three-quarters profile, galloping to the right, palm
tree behind. Cf. Jenkins SNR 56, 123; Boston MFA 488. Chipped die on reverse,
at 7 o'clock. Lightly toned, iridescent in the recesses. Both dies of masterful
quality. Choice Very Fine. Delightful artistic conception and
workmanship. Among the most charming die pairings in the Siculo-Punic series.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.
Lot 2975
Siculo-Punic, c. 300-289
BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.0 g). Head of youthful Herakles right, wearing
lion's skin. Reverse: Head of horse left, palm tree behind; below, in
Punic, "People of the Camp." SNG Cop. 984. Attractive old toning. Some surface
delamination, mostly to reverse. Very Fine.
Estimated Value
$300-400.