Curtisimo Posted January 27 · Supporter Share Posted January 27 I have been spending a lot more time in my numismatic library recently. That has led me to some really interesting discoveries. I thought it might be fun to start this thread to document some of this research. For now I intend to use this thread to post about; Provenance discoveries as I make them. Discoveries regarding collector tags and other ephemera. Interesting or noteworthy articles and information that I come across. Interesting catalogs or books that I think notable. (I’ve been adding both to my library at a record pace this last year!) Observations on topics such as: notable fabric peculiarities for specific coin types, style comparison of dies, historic trends in the coin market based on my catalog research etc. I will use this OP to link to later research posts. I hope others will consider adding to the thread with your random research also as I hope to link to contributor posts as well as my own. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted January 27 · Supporter Author Share Posted January 27 (edited) East Harptree Hoard of 1887 I’ll start off with the research equivalent of low-hanging fruit. I knew this coin was Ex Harptree Hoard ca. 1887 when I bought it from CNG back in 2017. However, the hoard was not photographed in its entirety after its discovery and this coin didn’t come with any ephemera that would allow me to connect it definitively to the hoard. Some additional research was needed. The hoard was discovered in the summer of 1887 on the land of William Kettlewell, as workers were searching for the source of a spring that could supplement the nearby town’s water supply. A total of 1,496 coins were discovered in a broken pewter container buried about 6 inches under the ground. The coins were turned over to the British Museum for study. The BM kept about 25 coins and returned the rest. William’s son later loaned the pewter container and about 250 coins to the local church for display, where they were stolen. The remaining ~1200 coins were sold by Spink in September of 2016. A fuller story of the hoard and its journey to Spink can be read here: https://www.spink.com/media/view?id=339 From this research, I knew that in order to connect my coin most securely to the hoard I would have to find it in the September 2016 Spink sale. Luckily, from what I can tell, Spink did a great job of photographing every coin in the hoard on at least one side (even the group lots). Not all of the group lots were illustrated in the print catalog but fortunately they are still available online at Spink’s website (Making a PDF of these online only lots is on my “to-do” list). I was happy to find my coin in one of the online group lots. For my records, I put together a collage of the relevant catalog information needed to connect my coin to the provenance. My coin is in the center of the group lot photo below. Roman Empire Julian II, AD 360-363 AR Siliqua, Lugdunum mint, struck ca. AD 360-361 Wt.: 2.23 g Dia.: 18 mm Obv.: FL CL IVLIA NVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev.: VICTORIA DD NN AVG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm frond Ref.: LVG. RIC VIII 212; Lyon 259; RSC 58†c, IRBCH 1424 Ex Harptree Hoard (discovered in 1887), Spink Auction 16006, lot 2983 (part of)(September 26-27, 2016); CNG E-auction 407, lot 604 (October 11, 2017) Edited April 21 by Curtisimo 15 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panzerman Posted January 27 · Member Share Posted January 27 There is a wealth of information out there to research. Great thread, Curtis! John 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted January 27 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted January 27 (edited) An excellent idea for a thread, @Curtisimo! I look forward to reading about your discoveries. I am very fortunate that both my East Harptree Hoard siliquae are recognizable in the photographs of the 2016 Spink auction lots from which they came: Constantius II (son of Constantine I), AR reduced Siliqua, Lugdunum (Lyon) Mint, 360-361 AD. Obv. Rosette-diademed [despite description by all dealers as pearl-diademed], draped, and cuirassed bust right, D N CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG / Rev. Victory advancing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm frond in left, both wings visible [despite description by all dealers as one wing visible], VICTORIA DD NN AVG; in exergue, mint mark LVG (Lugdunum). 17 mm., 2.06 g. RIC VIII 211 at p. 193 [both wings visible]; RSC V 259b (ill. p. 131) [rosette-diademed; both wings visible, = RIC VIII 211]; Sear RCV V 17948 (ill. p. 165) [applicable to RIC 210-211 & 214]. Purchased from Herakles Numismatics, July 2022; ex Triskeles Auction 31, 27.03.2020, Lot 344; ex Spink Auction 16006, 26-27 Sep 2016, East Harptree Hoard Sale, Part of Lot 2929 (see https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1689&lot=2929); from 1887 East Harptree hoard (one of 49 coins of this type in hoard; see article with inventory, “On a Hoard of Roman Coins Found at East Harptree, Near Bristol,” The Numismatic Chronicle (Vol. VIII, London 1888), pp. 22-46 at pp. 39-40; available at https://archive.org/details/thirdnumismatic08royauoft/page/40/mode/1up).* Valens (brother of Valentinian I, reigned AD 364-378), AR reduced Siliqua, AD 364-367, Rome Mint. Obv. DN VALEN-S PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / Rev. VOT- V- MV•LT - X in four lines within wreath. In exergue: Mintmark RB. RIC IX Rome 10c (p. 118), RSC V 91(h) (ill.), Sear RCV V 19687. 17 mm., 2.00 g. From 1887 East Harptree hoard (one of 19 coins of this type in hoard; see https://archive.org/details/thirdnumismatic08royauoft/page/46/mode/1up). Ex Spink Auction 16006, 26-27 Sep 2016, Part of Lot 3028. (See https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1689&lot=3028.)* My Valens siliqua (marked with black dot) in group photo of siliquae in Lot 3028, 26-27 Sep 2016 Spink Auction 16006 of East Harptree Hoard: Footnote applicable to both coins: * The East Harptree hoard was discovered in 1887 on the land of Mr. W. Kettlewell of Harptree Court, while a search for a new spring was being conducted. Mr. Kettlewell kindly made them available for study at the British Museum, and they were written up by John Evans for the Numismatic Chronicle of 1888, pages 22-46. The British Museum was given a few of the most interesting coins, and the rest were returned to the owner. Many years later they were given to the father of the consignor by Mr. Kettlewell's son, and they have remained in their packing ever since. Evans noted \The coins when found were to some extent coated in dirt, and with what was probably a little chloride of silver. When carefully washed and brushed their remarkably good preservation became apparent, and there were none but what could be attributed to the emperor under whom they were struck\\. The coins offered here are as they were when returned from the BM in 1887/1888. Many exhibit light deposit, which could be easily removed by a competent conservator, but at the expense of the mint bloom that is apparent on many. The overall quality is remarkable, and few, if any, are clipped. Large numbers look ordinary to the naked eye, but when tilted towards the light, or examined under magnification, reveal extraordinary quality. (See https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=1689&lot=2858 .) Whoever bought any of those lots probably made a nice profit on them, paying 130 GBP or less per coin and considering what siliquae from the hoard generally sell for an individual basis. Like you, I very much enjoy discovering and documenting pedigrees. I look forward to posting in Numisforums about a 1973 provenance I happened to discover yesterday for a beautiful Roman Republican denarius I purchased that morning at the Burgan Numismatique auction of part of the collection of Bernard Poindessault (see https://coinsweekly.com/bernard-poindessault-1935-2014/ ). I found it by comparing the coin to almost 300 images of the type in the Schaefer Roman Republican Die Project, hosted at numismatics.org, and then figuring out the meaning of Schaefer's cryptic abbreviation of the auction house's name (a Swiss house I'd never heard of). It's only the third or fourth time I've successfully found an old pedigree for one of my coins at the RRDP, so there's often a lot of effort put in for relatively meager results! Edited January 27 by DonnaML 8 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted January 28 · Supporter Author Share Posted January 28 4 hours ago, DonnaML said: I am very fortunate that both my East Harptree Hoard siliquae are recognizable in the photographs of the 2016 Spink auction lots from which they came: Both great coins Donna. I will just reiterate that I think Spink did a solid job on documenting and photographing the hoard. Not to name any names but one could easily contrast with the terrible job that was done handling large parts of the Dattari collection which was arguably a much more important group of coins. 4 hours ago, DonnaML said: Whoever bought any of those lots probably made a nice profit on them, paying 130 GBP or less per coin and considering what siliquae from the hoard generally sell for an individual basis. I thought about this too. I bought my coin in 2017 from CNG and I assume they were the winner of the Spink group lot my coin came from. I calculate that their break even was about $200. I got my example for $280 hammer, which was $20 under estimate. If my example was typical they would have made about $1600 profit on the lot. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted January 29 · Supporter Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) Seaby’s 1970s Provenance for my JC Portrait Denarius Next up is a provenance find I was extremely happy to make. I recently bought a bunch of Seaby’s Coin and Medal Bulletins and I found my JC portrait coin in both the January and December issues for 1976. I bought this coin last year without any verifiable provenance and I have since been able to push the provenance back 48 years, illustrated from three different auction houses and one named collection. Not bad! Roman Imperitorial Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC. AR Denarius (Lifetime Portrait), P. Sepullius Macer (moneyer), Rome mint, struck first half of March 44 BC (17 mm, 3.53 g, 4 h) Obv.: CAESAR [DIC]T PERPETVO Laureate and veiled head of Julius Caesar to right. Rev.: P•SEPVLLIVS - MACER Venus standing front, head lowered to left, holding Victory in her right hand and long scepter adorned with star in her left; to right, round shield set on the ground. Ref.: Babelon (Julia) 49 and (Sepullia) 4, Crawford 480/11, CRI 107b, RBW 1684, Sydenham 1072 Ex Seaby’s Coin & Medal Bulletin (January 1976), lot A51; Ex Seaby’s Coin & Medal Bulletin (December 1976), lot C541; Ex Münzhandlung Ritter Lagerliste no. 19, lot 327 (November 1983); Ex Collection formed in the Rhineland, Leu Numismatik Web Auction 24, lot 496 (Dec. 3, 2022) Edited August 25 by Curtisimo 6 1 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greekcoin21 Posted January 29 · Member Share Posted January 29 My god, I’m such a fool. Last year I sold 50 odd M & M. Price list's, also a large run of HJB catalogues, CNG early catalogues, nice items for provenance research, I had to trim the bookshelves down. My interest are RPC coins and have two shelves of auction and dealer Catalogues if anybody need help researching RPC coins provenance please contact. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Snible Posted January 30 · Member Share Posted January 30 4 hours ago, Greekcoin21 said: My god, I’m such a fool. Last year I sold 50 odd M & M. Price list's, also a large run of HJB catalogues, CNG early catalogues, nice items for provenance research, I had to trim the bookshelves down. HJB catalogs 1-197 can be found at https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctioncompanydetail/510329 and the later ones at issuu.com. CNG catalogs 1-56 can be found at https://digitalhn.blogspot.com/2020/03/older-cng-catalogs.html . Coins in catalogs after 60 are available on the cngcoins.com site (excluding unsolds). 5 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted April 18 · Supporter Author Share Posted April 18 (edited) Frederick S. Knobloch Collection It’s been a while since I have posted anything in the interesting but sleepy literature section of NF so I’ll change that with this research find I was very happy about. Roman Empire Commodus under Marcus Aurelius AE Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. AD 179 Dia.: 33 mm Wt.: 26.37 g Obv.: L AVREL COMMODVS AVG TR P IIII; Laureate head of Commodus right Rev.: IMP III COS II P P S C; Minerva standing left extending right hand, left hand resting on shield on ground to right, spear resting against shield Ref.: RIC III 1607 p. 342 (under Marcus Aurelius) Ex Frederick S. Knobloch Collection, Stack’s Public Auction Sale May 1980, lot 822 (May 2, 1980); Ex Stacks Coin Galleries July 2007, lot 768 (July 18, 2007); Ex Kenneth W. Dorney Auction 7, Lot 113 (Nov. 25, 2018); Ex Kenneth W. Dorney Auction 9, Lot 105 (Nov. 29, 2019) This is a coin I purchased from a Ken Dorney auction back in 2019 without any known provenance. In addition to finding several previous sales I was able to connect it to the Frederick S. Knobloch collection. Knobloch was a dealer and collector who formed his collection between 1930 and 1980. He sold his immense collection through several Stack’s auctions starting in 1970 and continuing through 1980. This coin was part of his Roman Imperial collection that sold in May of 1980. Considering how long he collected and that he started dispersing his collection in 1970, I think the odds of his having acquired this coin before 1970 are high. I’m still hopeful to find it in an older catalog but I suspect that, as a dealer, Knobloch had coin sources for his collection that wouldn’t have showed up in previous auctions (private sales, dealer swaps etc.). Either way I am thrilled with the research results for this coin and for its connection to a truly impressive collection. Edited April 19 by Curtisimo 5 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Anthos Posted April 28 · Member Share Posted April 28 Here's a list of most of my numismatic catalogs... https://www.librarything.com/catalog/Enodia?tag=Numismatic Catalogs I might be able to look something up if needed, but some of these are buried in a box in the dreaded storage room. ~ Peter 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anaximander Posted May 22 · Member Share Posted May 22 (edited) On 1/27/2024 at 12:39 AM, Curtisimo said: East Harptree Hoard of 1887 ... A fuller story of the hoard and its journey to Spink can be read here: https://www.spink.com/media/view?id=339 From this research, I knew that in order to connect my coin most securely to the hoard I would have to find it in the September 2016 Spink sale. Luckily, from what I can tell, Spink did a great job of photographing every coin in the hoard on at least one side (even the group lots). Not all of the group lots were illustrated in the print catalog but fortunately they are still available online at Spink’s website (Making a PDF of these online only lots is on my “to-do” list). I was happy to find my coin in one of the online group lots. For my records, I put together a collage of the relevant catalog information needed to connect my coin to the provenance. My coin is in the center of the group lot photo below. I am thrilled to learn about this hoard, and applaud your initiative, @Curtisimo. I didn't pause to think that a hoard from 1887 would be auctioned as recently as 2016. I rather assumed that the find would have been scattered and that coin photography would be out of the question. So wrong, so wonderfully wrong! Almost two months before your OP, and several months before I joined this forum, I came across this Siliqua of Julian II from my longtime dealer at the Richmond, Virginia coin show. That was the first I ever heard someone speak about the Harptree 1887 hoard. I look forward to nailing down that connection! Edited May 22 by Anaximander Revised the timing of my coin purchase in VA. 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anaximander Posted May 23 · Member Share Posted May 23 I have found evidence of the Harptree Hoard pedigree for the coin listed above. It's something of a challenge, given the sheer quantity of coins in the lot, (36), much less in the hoard (lots 2858 to 3030). Lot #2977. AR Siliqua (36), Lugdunum. Did you find it? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted May 23 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 23 (edited) On 5/22/2024 at 4:47 PM, Anaximander said: I am thrilled to learn about this hoard, and applaud your initiative, @Curtisimo. I didn't pause to think that a hoard from 1887 would be auctioned as recently as 2016. I rather assumed that the find would have been scattered and that coin photography would be out of the question. So wrong, so wonderfully wrong! Almost two months before your OP, and several months before I joined this forum, I came across this Siliqua of Julian II from my longtime dealer at the Richmond, Virginia coin show. That was the first I ever heard someone speak about the Harptree 1887 hoard. I look forward to nailing down that connection! It looks like one of Perry's tickets from Herakles Numismatics! A coin I ordered from him just arrived in the mail today. I'm not sure that you've correctly identified your coin in the photo of Lot 2977 in the 2016 Spink sale. The photo to which the arrow points has beading on the right-hand side of the reverse, and an area outside that beading. The photo of your coin shows no beading on the right-hand side of the reverse. Edited to correct typo: the Spink sale was in 2016, not 1916! Edited May 24 by DonnaML 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anaximander Posted May 24 · Member Share Posted May 24 (edited) 18 hours ago, DonnaML said: It looks like one of Perry's tickets from Herakles Numismatics! A coin I ordered from him just arrived in the mail today. I'm not sure that you've correctly identified your coin in the photo of Lot 2977 in the 1916 Spink sale. The photo to which the arrow points has beading on the right-hand side of the reverse, and an area outside that beading. The photo of your coin shows no beading on the right-hand side of the reverse. Small world! Perry Siegel, whom I've known for donkey's years and who just celebrated 25 years in business. Yes, this is one of his. I met Perry and the late Guy Clark in Charlotte back in June 1998. He's the main reason I still go to coin shows. As for the coin attribution, the sliver of a view in the Spink photo isn't much to go on. Scrutiny is helpful. I had to prove the coin identification to myself through some photo gymnastics. I rotated the reverse of my coin to about 7h, almost upside down, so that the left side is now on the right. I initially posed the two images (mine and Spink's) side-by-side, and then did several overlays (such as this 50%/0% then 50%/50%)... I could hope for better, but I think the evidence is more than just circumstantial. Edited May 24 by Anaximander downsized images... 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted May 24 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 24 14 minutes ago, Anaximander said: Small world! Perry Siegel, whom I've known for donkey's years and who just celebrated 25 years in business. Yes, this is one of his. I met Perry and the late Guy Clark in Charlotte back in June 1998. He's the main reason I still go to coin shows. As for the coin attribution, the sliver of a view in the Spink photo isn't much to go on. Scrutiny is helpful. I had to prove the coin identification to myself through some photo gymnastics. I rotated the reverse of my coin to about 7h, almost upside down, so that the left side is now on the right. I initially posed the two images (mine and Spink's) side-by-side, and then did several overlays (such as this 50%/0% then 50%/50%)... I could hope for better, but I think the evidence is more than just circumstantial. OK, I get it now. I was looking at the wrong coin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor jdmKY Posted May 24 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 24 @Curtisimo you inspired me to do a little research on my Brutus aureus which I had always presumed might have an auction history. One of the resources that Ed Waddell suggested I use was the ANS Roman Republican Die Project. It’s not the easiest to navigate, but I did get a hit - M&M Basel 66, 1984. No prior provenance was provided, but it’s a start! 11 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted August 25 · Supporter Author Share Posted August 25 My apologies to the board for letting this thread sit so long without updates. Let’s fix that! On 4/27/2024 at 7:52 PM, Phil Anthos said: Here's a list of most of my numismatic catalogs... https://www.librarything.com/catalog/Enodia?tag=Numismatic Catalogs I might be able to look something up if needed, but some of these are buried in a box in the dreaded storage room. ~ Peter That is extremely generous of you Phil. I am in the process of cataloging my library in spreadsheet format so perhaps I’ll eventually get around to posting that and I will follow your example and offer assistance with looking up items as well. On 5/22/2024 at 3:47 PM, Anaximander said: I am thrilled to learn about this hoard, and applaud your initiative, @Curtisimo. I didn't pause to think that a hoard from 1887 would be auctioned as recently as 2016. I rather assumed that the find would have been scattered and that coin photography would be out of the question. So wrong, so wonderfully wrong! Almost two months before your OP, and several months before I joined this forum, I came across this Siliqua of Julian II from my longtime dealer at the Richmond, Virginia coin show. That was the first I ever heard someone speak about the Harptree 1887 hoard. I look forward to nailing down that connection! On 5/24/2024 at 1:02 PM, Anaximander said: Small world! Perry Siegel, whom I've known for donkey's years and who just celebrated 25 years in business. Yes, this is one of his. I met Perry and the late Guy Clark in Charlotte back in June 1998. He's the main reason I still go to coin shows. As for the coin attribution, the sliver of a view in the Spink photo isn't much to go on. Scrutiny is helpful. I had to prove the coin identification to myself through some photo gymnastics. I rotated the reverse of my coin to about 7h, almost upside down, so that the left side is now on the right. I initially posed the two images (mine and Spink's) side-by-side, and then did several overlays (such as this 50%/0% then 50%/50%)... I could hope for better, but I think the evidence is more than just circumstantial. I am thrilled that this thread helped you identify a provenance for your coin and I am truly impressed at your detective work in spotting your example in that photo. Fantastic work! On 5/24/2024 at 2:24 PM, jdmKY said: @Curtisimo you inspired me to do a little research on my Brutus aureus which I had always presumed might have an auction history. One of the resources that Ed Waddell suggested I use was the ANS Roman Republican Die Project. It’s not the easiest to navigate, but I did get a hit - M&M Basel 66, 1984. No prior provenance was provided, but it’s a start! What a stunning coin! Congratulations on the provenance find for it. Thanks for posting it here as well. 🙂 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted August 25 · Supporter Author Share Posted August 25 (edited) Frederick Hastings Rindge Collection Provenanced to 1889 ROMAN REPUBLIC C. Servilius Vatia, moneyer AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck 127 BC (18 mm, 3.91g) Obv.: Helmeted head of Roma r., lituus behind, ROMA below, mark of value under chin. Rev.: Horseman galloping l., piercing with spear another horseman before him; C SERVEIL (VE ligate) in exergue. Ref.: Crawford 264/1, Syd-483, RSC Servilia-6. Ex Frederick Hastings Rindge Collection (1857-1905†), loaned for exhibition to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1889, [Edward Robinson, “CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOAN EXHIBITIONS. For the Year 1889” (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), Annual Report Vol. 14, p. 49 (December 31, 1889)], the Rindge Collection was sold in 1985 in two parts through Malter auctions XXIX and XXX, Malter XXX, lot 1550 (June 7-8, 1985); Ex Harlan J Berk Buy or Bid Sale 225, lot 286 (November 30, 2023) In most cases we are happy when our research turns up one of our coins listed in some old catalog that tells us a story about where that coin has been in the recent past. This case was actually the opposite for me. I was happy to add a coin because the catalog it appears in was already one of my favorite catalogs in my library. Therefore, I already knew about the Rindge provenance when I bought this coin but much to my delight with a bit of searching I was able to push the provenance for this coin back to when it was loaned by Rindge to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston by at least 1889. Frederick Rindge was a wealthy business magnate, native of Cambridge Massachusetts and founder of Malibu California. You can read his Wikipedia page here. The entire Rindge collection was sold through Malter in 1985. It is not clear where the collection was between his death in 1905 and when it was sold by his estate in 1985. Presumably, the collection was still on loan via his estate to the MFA Boston during most of the intervening period. Below is the biography from the catalogs for additional details. This coin type is fascinating in its own right so I will probably eventually dedicate a thread to discussing the details of the type. Edited September 9 by Curtisimo 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulla80 Posted August 25 · Supporter Share Posted August 25 8 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted August 30 · Supporter Author Share Posted August 30 Book: Greek Religion by Walter Burkert One of the fun things about collecting ancient coins for me is that it gives me a chance to combine my love of books with the hobby more generally. Catalogs and numismatic references are an obvious case of this but a lot of time it extends into straight forward history books and even historical fiction as well. The book Greek Religion by Walter Burkhert is one such book. I have been consulting it while researching the Olympian gods as part of my 12 Olympian Portraits series. I am currently in the process of reading it all the way through and so far I’ve found it very interesting and enjoyable. The book is a 1985 English translation from a 1977 German original. It is a scholarly book but written in a way that is directly understandable to anyone interested in the subject with a basic understanding of Ancient Greece. I contrast this with some scholarly books that seem to be written to be deliberately opaque to most readers due to dense notations, obscure references that aren’t explained and ancient language quotes that the author assumes the reader is fluent in. This book contains none of those frustrating tendencies. In fact, so far I think the book really pulls off a great balancing act of being scholarly but accessible without tipping into the more mass market targeted history books such as those of Mary Beard (not that I dislike MB’s books. I love them! But they are more for enjoyment and occasional insight than for deep understanding and research.) I’ll update this post with a more detailed review once I’ve finished reading the whole book. Please feel free to show any books that you might be reading as part of coin inspired research or interests. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted September 9 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 9 Paeonian Tetradrachm Provenanced to HJB in 1987 Kings of Paeonia Patraos (c. 335-315 BC) AR Tetradrachm, mint at Astibos or Damastion. (24 mm, 1 h, 12.93 g) Obv.: Laureate head of Apollo right Rev.: Warrior on horse rearing r., spearing enemy warrior who defends with shield and spear. Ref.: HGC 3, 148 Ex Harlan J Berk 48th Buy or Bid Sale, lot 74 (April 22, 1987); Ex Bertolami Fine Arts E-Auction 105, lot 884 (Oct. 21, 2021) I was extremely happy to have recently found a provenance for one of my favorite Greek tetradrachms. The reverse of this coin is one of the sharpest and most detailed I have seen and it’s nice to note that HJB agreed and graded the coin “Mint State.” Finding this provenance motivated me to do some additional research on this coin and the dies. @Valentinianand @Hesiodwere kind enough to assist me with that and I remain grateful for their help. Thanks guys! Anyone else have any old HJB provenances? 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greekcoin21 Posted September 9 · Member Share Posted September 9 M & M Catalogue 41, does any know who the owner of the outstanding collection of RPC coins in this sale, I have the catalogue and prices realized list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted September 9 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 9 (edited) 1 hour ago, Greekcoin21 said: M & M Catalogue 41, does any know who the owner of the outstanding collection of RPC coins in this sale, I have the catalogue and prices realized list. I have that one as well and it has a sticky note denoting the great selection of RPC coins in the sale. Are you sure that the RPC coins constitute a single collection? It doesn’t indicate that is the case in the catalog. I had assumed it may have come from multiple collections and M&M waited to bundle them together in an RPC heavy sale to get higher visibility. I have the catalog and prices but since you already have them that is no help. Hopefully someone else here will know more. Edited September 9 by Curtisimo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted September 12 · Supporter Author Share Posted September 12 (edited) The Frustration (and Value) of an “Almost Provenance” I have been sharing some of my fun provenance finds in this thread (with more to come 🙂). One thing I haven’t done is highlight some of the “almost provenance” discoveries I’ve made. An almost provenance is when I’m looking through an old catalog and my eye catches something that looks familiar. I start to get excited thinking I have found another hit, but then… I check the details and it’s not my coin. Bummer. Or is it? Usually these near misses are a single or double die match to one of my coins with a similar die state and centering. There is some value to finding such things in old catalogs. At the very least it helps increase my confidence that the style and fabric are correct if I can find such similarities in catalogs from 60, 80 or 100 years ago. Below are two examples of almost provenances. …………………………… So far I have been able to trace this Aspendos back to HJB in 2015. However, with the beautiful old cabinet toning I have always suspected that this coin has been in collections for quite a while. That’s why I was super excited to find what I thought was a photo of this coin recently in a Peus auction from the 1950s. Turns out, it is not the same coin but close. It’s a double die match with a similar counter mark. The obverse even has the die flaw where the wrestler on the left looks like he’s passing a bit gas due to all the exertion. 😉 I wonder if they came from the same hoard? I started seeing a lot of die matches to my example starting in catalogs from the 1930s. I think there must have been a hoard of these staters that came on the market in the early 30s and continued to be sold through the 40s. The Peus example already looks like it has some nice toning so perhaps it had been in collections for a decade or two before this sale. It is also always nice to find similar coins to yours in old sales because it gives you hope that yours was the kind of example they were investing in photography for. I’ll be continuing to keep an eye out for this one. ……………………………. This is not a reverse die match but I thought at first the obverse might be. I’m less sure now due to the symbol below the horse. I found the loss of detail around the horse’s mouth to be one of the items of interest because that doesn’t seem to be very common with these. Stylistically these two coins are very close. Edited September 12 by Curtisimo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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