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NYINC Signature Sale 3081 12-13 Jan 2020
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Ancients
Maximian, first reign (AD 286-310). AV aureus (19mm, 5.47 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5, light scuff. Iantinum (Meaux), AD 293. MAXIMIA-NVS P AVG, laureate head of Maximian right / IOVI FVLG-E-RATORI, Jupiter advancing right, nude but for chlamys over shoulder and billowing to left, brandishing thunderbolt in right hand; anguipedal giant (probably Typhoeus) at right, facing left, right hand raised; IAN in exergue. RIC V -. RIC VI -. Calicó 4708 var. (obverse legend) and questioned the existence of the listed coin. ANSMN 25, plate 9, 1 (this coin). Extremely rare - no examples in sales archives in the past 20 years.
The appearance of this new aureus type in 1980 led Pierre Bastien to reopen the discussion of the existence of the Iantinum (Meaux) mint with an article in ANSMN 25, pp. 77-85 and plates 9-10. According to Bastien, only four other examples from Iantinum were known at the time - Museo Archeologico Florence (different obverse die, same reverse die); Cabinet des Medailles Paris (stolen in 1831 - different obverse legend, same reverse die); Cabinet des Medailles Paris, no. 1586 (Diocletian obverse die, VIRTVS AVGG reverse with Hercules lifting Antaeus); and Cabinet des Medailles Paris (Rothschild collection, no. 504, same obverse die as previous, HERCVLI VICTORI reverse with Hercules seated facing). As such, the present example is the only known specimen outside of museum collections and thus the only currently collectible representative from this mint, which is not listed in RIC at all.
Bastien explains the necessity of a transitional mint to pay for the military operations the Gallic region since the suspension of gold issues from the mint at Lugdunum in spring AD 286 and before the opening of the mint in Trier in the beginning of AD 294. The analogies between the portraits and the coin types of Iantinum and Trier clearly show the engravers worked at the temporary mint and were transferred from Lugdunum to Iantinum to Trier months later upon its opening.
The reverse type on the present coin is postulated by Bastien to represent the diarchy of Diocletian and Maximian and their destruction of Carausius with Jupiter (the patron of Diocletian) on a Maximian aureus to show their unity against the giant Typhoeus (Carausius), against whom Jupiter had a difficult time defeating.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-maximian-first-reign-ad-286-310-av-aureus-19mm-547-gm-12h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-4-5-light-scuff/a/3081-32071.s?type=CoinArchives3081
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 50000-70000 USD
Maximian, first reign (AD 286-310). AV aureus (19mm, 5.47 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5, light scuff. Iantinum (Meaux), AD 293. MAXIMIA-NVS P AVG, laureate head of Maximian right / IOVI FVLG-E-RATORI, Jupiter advancing right, nude but for chlamys over shoulder and billowing to left, brandishing thunderbolt in right hand; anguipedal giant (probably Typhoeus) at right, facing left, right hand raised; IAN in exergue. RIC V -. RIC VI -. Calicó 4708 var. (obverse legend) and questioned the existence of the listed coin. ANSMN 25, plate 9, 1 (this coin). Extremely rare - no examples in sales archives in the past 20 years.
The appearance of this new aureus type in 1980 led Pierre Bastien to reopen the discussion of the existence of the Iantinum (Meaux) mint with an article in ANSMN 25, pp. 77-85 and plates 9-10. According to Bastien, only four other examples from Iantinum were known at the time - Museo Archeologico Florence (different obverse die, same reverse die); Cabinet des Medailles Paris (stolen in 1831 - different obverse legend, same reverse die); Cabinet des Medailles Paris, no. 1586 (Diocletian obverse die, VIRTVS AVGG reverse with Hercules lifting Antaeus); and Cabinet des Medailles Paris (Rothschild collection, no. 504, same obverse die as previous, HERCVLI VICTORI reverse with Hercules seated facing). As such, the present example is the only known specimen outside of museum collections and thus the only currently collectible representative from this mint, which is not listed in RIC at all.
Bastien explains the necessity of a transitional mint to pay for the military operations the Gallic region since the suspension of gold issues from the mint at Lugdunum in spring AD 286 and before the opening of the mint in Trier in the beginning of AD 294. The analogies between the portraits and the coin types of Iantinum and Trier clearly show the engravers worked at the temporary mint and were transferred from Lugdunum to Iantinum to Trier months later upon its opening.
The reverse type on the present coin is postulated by Bastien to represent the diarchy of Diocletian and Maximian and their destruction of Carausius with Jupiter (the patron of Diocletian) on a Maximian aureus to show their unity against the giant Typhoeus (Carausius), against whom Jupiter had a difficult time defeating.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-maximian-first-reign-ad-286-310-av-aureus-19mm-547-gm-12h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-4-5-light-scuff/a/3081-32071.s?type=CoinArchives3081
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 50000-70000 USD