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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,967 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
I missed out on a lot I was bidding on from the Naumann auction today. I have looked at the unsold lots a few times from the Gemini XIV auction and one particular coin caught my eye. It is a rare Galba minted at Tarraco. I sent an email and asked to buy the lot. I just received word that it is mine. What I have found online: Acsearch=0 CNG=0 Coin archives= this coin Major Museum collections (OCRE) = 1 in the British museum, 1 in Paris I love the dark toning of this coin. It also has a great provenance. It was part of the Dr. Jyrki Muona collection. This is my second Galba denarius from his collection. It is far from a perfect coin, but that is part of the charm for me. The figure on the reverse is well defined, but it is the bust of Galba that really makes this coin, as there is so much character in the portrait. It is a shame that so much of the legend is missing, but I am glad most of the name is there. I am thrilled to add this interesting coin to my collection.:D Please post your coins of Galba. I have included the full description from the catalogue. Galba. 68-69 AD. Denarius, 3.50gg. (5h). Tarraco. Obv: GALBA - IM[PERATOR] Head laureate right on globe. Rx: LIB - [ERTAS] - RESTITVTA Libertas standing left, apparently emptying a cup and holding scepter. BM 198, pl. 54.3. RIC 9 (R2), pl. 24 (the BM spec.). Cf. Paris 12, pl.III (apparently no globe below bust). Cohen 133 (120 Fr.). VF. Ex Jyrki Muona Collection. On the Paris specimen of this coin the scepter on reverse has a thickened upper end, so Cohen thought it was a thyrsus and called the figure Ariadne. On the BM specimen the scepter has no bulge at the end, but Matting still followed Cohen in calling it a "thyrsus(?)", and suggested that the figure was a Bacchante, the type perhaps referring to "some kindness that Galba rendered to Spain in the form of removal of restrictions on the culture of vines" (Introduction, p. ccix). It seems more probable that the deity is just Libertas, as named in the legend, and that the cup she apparently empties on several dies, replacing her normal cap of liberty, is merely an engraver's whim or error.  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Congrats on adding this coin to your collection.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
An impressive acquisition. Congratulations.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Congrats! Rare, provenanced, richly toned, and expressive portrait. Score!
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1269 Posts |
Thanks to all for the kind words.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Lovely!
I have always liked the style of the Spanish-mint coins... very distinctive!
Out of curiosity, which Galba were you after from Naumann? I was watching that one too, and won a couple job lots, but not much spectacular.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
Hi @Finn235
It was not a Galba I was after. There was a group lot of 16 Roman denarii. There were a few run of mill Domitians and Vespasians some coins of Trajan, Hadrian Aurelius etc. However, the last coin shown in the group was an extremely rare Titus as Caesar with a Minerva reverse. That's right, a Minerva reverse on a denarius of Titus. I consulted my usual sources and found this coin to be extremely rare. I wanted it and I bid up to 525 Euro, but it went higher. I almost bid more but then I asked myself what I would do with 15 denarii I did not want, so I passed. I have no idea what such a rare coin was doing in such a pedestrian lot of coins.
What coins did you win from Naumann?
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Valued Member
United States
253 Posts |
Super Nice! A lot better than mine. Congrats!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
How much was the Titus worth? None of those others were gems, but as a lot on ebay would have fetched easily $250, possibly more individually. I won two smaller lots, one for an Otho hole filler (and upgrades for Galba and Nerva) and another of Republican denarii for a Caesar elephant denarius that I will probably end up selling to keep the Otho for cheaper. I somehow forgot to bookmark and missed a few nice lots of Cilician fractions that would have flipped for a very nice profit... oh well. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
To me the Titus was worth maybe 200-250 Euro. Yes, I might have been able to flip the others.
I saw both of those lots and thought they were quite good. Some nice coins in those lots. Nice purchases! The way they constructed the lots did not make sense to me. I think there were plenty of coins in those lots (including your own) that would have sold well on their own.
Sorry you missed the Cilician fractions.
I hope to see pictures of your new acquisitions on here when they arrive.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
@Finn235
I just checked NN. I think you did really well on the Galba-Otho lot. You got a very nice Galba, a decent Otho, a Vitellius and a Brutus for that one price. Well Done!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1269 Posts |
Finn, that is even better! I just checked wildwinds and I think your coin is RIC 221. Acsearch has only 5 examples of the coin. Plus, your coin is in really nice shape. On top of that you got a decent Augustus and a nice little tribute penny. I also like the republican lot. Nice elephant. By the way, here is a picture of my Galba with Virtus. Different obverse legend so mine is RIC 236.  |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,967 |
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Posted 05/06/2018 9:26 pm
