Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 64 28 Nov 2019
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A Group of Five Late Roman and Early Byzantine Solidi and a Late Roman Semissis set in mounts in a Contemporary Chain Necklace. Including a Semissis of Leo I, and solidi of Zeno, Anastasius, Phocas, Heraclius and Constans II.
The necklace is formed of a 380mm chain with the Leo I semissis at the clasp, a solidus 110mm further to each side (Heraclius to left & Constans II to right), and a fourth coin (Zeno) equidistant between the two outer solidi, 80mm from each. The final two coins are mounted on 120mm pendant chains hanging from either side of the Zeno solidus (Anastasius to left & Phocas to right). The whole weighs 62.42g.
a) Leo I AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 462-466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory seated right on cuirass, inscribing +VXXX around edge of shield set on knee; star and shield to left, staurogram to right; CONOB. RIC 608; Depeyrot 95/1.
Near Extremely Fine; lustrous surfaces.
b) Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVCCC A, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 905; Depeyrot 108/1.
Near Extremely Fine; some flatness to obv., highly lustrous surfaces.
c) Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 498-518. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, holding spear over right shoulder and shield with horseman and enemy motif / VICTORIA AVCCC I, Victory standing left, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 7c; MIBE 7; Sear 5.
Good Very Fine; slightly wavy flan, graffito to obv., scratch to rev.
d) Phocas AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 602-610. [∂ N FOC]AS PЄRP AVG, draped and cuirassed facing bust, wearing crown without pendilia, holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGЧ H, angel standing facing, holding globus cruciger and staff surmounted by staurogram; CONOB in exergue. MIBE 9; DOC 10; Sear 620.
Near Extremely Fine; flip-over double strike, with the remnants of the rev. legend showing through under the beginning of the obv. legend. Lustrous.
e) Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 610-641. Heraclius, Heraclonas and Heraclius Constantine, each crowned, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger, standing facing / VICTORIA AVςЧ H, cross potent on three steps; monogram in left field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 43d; MIB 50; Sear 769.
Near Extremely Fine / Good Very Fine; a well-centred and attractive piece.
f) Constans II, with Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 654-659. ∂ N CONSƮANƮINVS C CONSTA, crowned facing busts of Constans on left, with long beard, and Constantine on right, beardless, both wearing chlamys; cross between their heads / VICTORIA AVGЧ B, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. DOC 25; MIB 26; Sear 959.
Near Mint State; some flatness to both obv. and rev., highly lustrous, untouched surfaces.
From the inventory of Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd. (New York).
The necklace is formed of a 380mm chain with the Leo I semissis at the clasp, a solidus 110mm further to each side (Heraclius to left & Constans II to right), and a fourth coin (Zeno) equidistant between the two outer solidi, 80mm from each. The final two coins are mounted on 120mm pendant chains hanging from either side of the Zeno solidus (Anastasius to left & Phocas to right). The whole weighs 62.42g.
a) Leo I AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 462-466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory seated right on cuirass, inscribing +VXXX around edge of shield set on knee; star and shield to left, staurogram to right; CONOB. RIC 608; Depeyrot 95/1.
Near Extremely Fine; lustrous surfaces.
b) Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVCCC A, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 905; Depeyrot 108/1.
Near Extremely Fine; some flatness to obv., highly lustrous surfaces.
c) Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 498-518. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, holding spear over right shoulder and shield with horseman and enemy motif / VICTORIA AVCCC I, Victory standing left, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 7c; MIBE 7; Sear 5.
Good Very Fine; slightly wavy flan, graffito to obv., scratch to rev.
d) Phocas AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 602-610. [∂ N FOC]AS PЄRP AVG, draped and cuirassed facing bust, wearing crown without pendilia, holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGЧ H, angel standing facing, holding globus cruciger and staff surmounted by staurogram; CONOB in exergue. MIBE 9; DOC 10; Sear 620.
Near Extremely Fine; flip-over double strike, with the remnants of the rev. legend showing through under the beginning of the obv. legend. Lustrous.
e) Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 610-641. Heraclius, Heraclonas and Heraclius Constantine, each crowned, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger, standing facing / VICTORIA AVςЧ H, cross potent on three steps; monogram in left field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 43d; MIB 50; Sear 769.
Near Extremely Fine / Good Very Fine; a well-centred and attractive piece.
f) Constans II, with Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 654-659. ∂ N CONSƮANƮINVS C CONSTA, crowned facing busts of Constans on left, with long beard, and Constantine on right, beardless, both wearing chlamys; cross between their heads / VICTORIA AVGЧ B, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. DOC 25; MIB 26; Sear 959.
Near Mint State; some flatness to both obv. and rev., highly lustrous, untouched surfaces.
From the inventory of Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd. (New York).