Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 2



      ancient classic artifacts coins numismatic roman greek 



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                        Lot: 368

                        (click on image to enlarge)
                        IONIA, League of 13 Cities: Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. 
                        AE 43mm medallion (44.79 gm).

                        ROMAN EMPIRE. Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). Bronze 
                        medallion (43 mm, 44.79 gm). Ionian League of Thirteen 
                        Cities. AV KAI TI AI ADPIANOC [ANTW]NEINOC EV (beginning 
                        at 10:30), laureate, draped bust left /KOI[NON PR M] KL 
                        FPONTWNOC ACIAPXOV KAI APXIE IG POLEWN (around, 
                        beginning at 9:00), ON in upper field, Demeter standing 
                        right in biga drawn by two winged serpents, holding 
                        torch in each hand, drapery billowing above head. BMC 
                        Ionia p. 16, 2 var. Gillespie nos. 17-23 var. Flan crack 
                        at 10:00 on obverse. Bold fine 

                        This is the only obverse die used to strike the 
                        medallions of Antoninus Pius of the Ionian League of 
                        Thirteen Cities. This reverse die was unknown to J.U. 
                        Gillespie ("A Study of the Coinage of the 'Ionian 
                        League,'" RBN 102 (1956), pp. 31-53), who recorded seven 
                        medallions with this reverse type from four or five 
                        other reverse dies. The letters ON in upper field are 
                        peculiar to this die; perhaps they go with a conjectured 
                        PP in the legend lacuna at 10:00, abbreviated there 
                        because of lack of space. The reverse legend in its full 
                        form, common to all coins of the issue, translates to 
                        "Commonwealth of Thirteen Cities, by direction of M. 
                        Claudius Fronto, Asiarch and High Priest of the Thirteen 
                        Cities. 
                        Estimated Value: $ 2,750 




...Lot was unsold.
 

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com) 
                      and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com).