Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXV 11-12 Jan 2022
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Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.28 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 169. M ΛNTONINVS ΛVG TR P XXIII, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left, viewed from behind / FELICITΛS ΛVG COS III, Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and vertical scepter in left. RIC III 202; MIR 18, 180-2/37; Calicó 1853 (this coin); BMCRE 489 note; Biaggi 848 (this coin). Underlying luster, light scratches in reverse fields. EF. With an elegant left-facing portrait in high relief. Rare, with only two other examples in CoinArchives.
From the Menlo Park Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, 2004. Ex Leo Biaggi de Blasys (1906-1979) Collection.
Leo Biaggi de Blasys (1906-1979) was a Swiss sugar magnate and sportsman whose fascination with ancient Rome led to the creation of one of the world's greatest collections of Roman gold coins. Born in Genoa to Swiss-Italian diplomat and a French mother, he was active in the Red Cross after 1943 and, along with his father, he repeatedly helped Jews in Italy escape persecution in the later years of World War II. He was also alleged to have knowingly aided in the escape of high-ranking Nazis, a notion dismissed by his friends and relations. In 1961 he received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his services. His collection focused on Roman gold from the Republic to late Empire, including many unique medallions, ultimately comprising over 2,000 specimens. The gold collection was purchased en bloc by Bank Leu (Zurich) in 1978, and slowly sold off to collectors over the next few decades. The Biaggi pedigree remains highly prized among collectors of Roman gold.
From the Menlo Park Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, 2004. Ex Leo Biaggi de Blasys (1906-1979) Collection.
Leo Biaggi de Blasys (1906-1979) was a Swiss sugar magnate and sportsman whose fascination with ancient Rome led to the creation of one of the world's greatest collections of Roman gold coins. Born in Genoa to Swiss-Italian diplomat and a French mother, he was active in the Red Cross after 1943 and, along with his father, he repeatedly helped Jews in Italy escape persecution in the later years of World War II. He was also alleged to have knowingly aided in the escape of high-ranking Nazis, a notion dismissed by his friends and relations. In 1961 he received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his services. His collection focused on Roman gold from the Republic to late Empire, including many unique medallions, ultimately comprising over 2,000 specimens. The gold collection was purchased en bloc by Bank Leu (Zurich) in 1978, and slowly sold off to collectors over the next few decades. The Biaggi pedigree remains highly prized among collectors of Roman gold.