Fine Coins of Late Antiquity and the Byzantine Empire at Solidus

In the current auction 125, Solidus presents 400 attractive lots with some rarities, including a series of late antique and Byzantine solidi in fine condition, some rare Russian coins and a specimen of the very rare Military Order of Maria Theresa. At the end of the auction, interesting groups of coins will be offered with very moderate estimated prices. The auction will be held as a live auction on the auction platform AUEX on Tuesday, 17 October 2023 from 16:00. Pre-bids can already be submitted.

The auction begins with Celtic coins, predominantly from the East Celtic area. Coins from Magna Graecia follow, including a tetradrachm from Leontinoi (lot 16) and a series of coinages from Thrace and Macedonia. Beautiful silver coins are tetradrachms of Lysimachus (lot 23) and from Akanthos (lot 28), made of gold a very rare stater of Philippos II from Teos is worth mentioning (lot 30). The auction continues with a selection of coins focusing on the Greek motherland, Asia Minor and the Hellenistic kingdoms. A group of provincial Roman coins is followed by some denarii of the Roman Republic.

Lot 127: Roman Imperial. Domitian (81-96). Denarius, 85, Rome. Mourning Germania. Starting Price: 1,500 EUR.

This is followed by denarii, sestertii and antoniniani of the Roman imperial period. Worthy of special mention are an excellent denarius of Domitian with mourning Germania (lot 127), minted well centered on a large flan, as well as an excellent antoninian of Pupienus (lot 139). Besides some late Roman bronzes, some siliquae and tremisses of this epoch catch the eye. The Byzantine coins are mainly represented by pretty solidi, mostly in excellent condition. Particularly beautiful is the image of Christ on a freshly minted solidus of Justinian II (lot 223).

Lot 223: Byzantine. Justinian II (685-695 and 705-711). Solidus, c. 705, Constantinopolis. Starting Price: 1,500 EUR.

Coins of the Middle Ages are mainly from Europe, followed by German and Austrian coins. From the Empire of Austria a very rare Military Order of Maria Theresa is on offer (lot 272), formerly in the possession of Colonel Ioan Boeriu, Baron of Polichna (Johann Freiherr Boeriu von Polichna,1859 – 1949). From the same possession are further ribbons and an original case for the Knight’s Cross of the Austrian Imperial Order of Leopold (lots 273 and 274).

Lot 272: Austria. Franz Joseph (1848-1916). Military Order of Maria Theresa, second period, 1860-1918. Extremely rare. Starting Price: 8,000 EUR.

Among the European coins are three particularly beautiful silver coins from Modena, including an extremely rare piece of Virginia de Medici (lots 284 – 286). Also this time there are some Russian rarities on offer: 3 roubles at 20 zloty 1840 (lot 295), a one-sided proof of the 5 rouble piece 1847 (lot 296), and a rouble 1912, commemorating the erection of the monument for Alexander III in Moscow (lot 298).

Lot 298: Russia. Nicholas II (1894-1917). Ruble, 1912, St. Petersburg. Commemorating the monument for Alexander III. Starting Price: 1.000 EUR.

A golden Hungarian 100 Korona piece from 1916 (lot 300), some medals and Islamic coins finish the offer of single coins.

The last section of the auction is made up of interesting coin groups with very moderate estimate prices.