REVIEW: ANCIENT COINS 13 OCTOBER

Roman Imperial coinage from a private collection led the day in Noonans’ Ancient Coins sale on 13 October.

The ten Roman Aurei, the Property of a Gentleman, netted a hammer total of £85,000, with three lots each selling for £15,000.

The first of these was an Aureus of Julius Caesar, struck in Rome, the obverse featuring a veiled head of Vesta facing right, the reverse a jug and axe. At 8.03g, it had an estimate of £8,000-10,000.

An Aureus of Nero and Agrippina II, Aureus, struck in Rome, the obverse depicting conjoined busts, shows the reverse with the deified Emperor Claudius holding an eagle-tipped sceptre, driving quadriga chariot of elephants, the scene modelled on Augustus’ grand funeral some forty years earlier. The estimate was £10,000-12,000.

Completing the trio was an Aureus of Galba, the sixth Roman Emperor, whose bust adorns the obverse, the reverse showing Concordia holding cornucopiae and branch. This extremely rare coin carried an estimate of £8,000-10,000.