KUENKER AUCTIONS 395-397, PART 1

Ancient Roman coins for connoisseurs with a deep interest in Roman history, a cross-section of coins from the ancient world including numerous gold issues as well as spectacular orders and decorations with magnificent provenances – this is the focus of Künker's public auctions in November.

Orders and medals from the estate of the Silesian line of the House of Württemberg as well as a spectacular private collection of Prussian orders and decorations – this is the offer that awaits phaleristic enthusiasts at Künker's order auction on 13 November 2023. Lovers of ancient issues can, among other things, look forward to 1st-century Roman Republican coinage as well as early imperial issues from the Dr. W. R. Collection. Part 7 and 8 focus on great rarities of the Roman imperators and provincial Roman coinage. Next is auction 397 with a wide scope of ancient coins, including pieces from the Dr. Kurt Conzen Collection and gold coins from the collection of the Luxembourg notary Maître Robert Schuman.

Auction 396 – The Dr. W. R. Collection Part 7 and 8
Two more parts of the Dr. W. R. Collection will be on sale at auction 396 on 13 and 14 November 2023 in Osnabrück. The sale starts with a spectacular series of Roman provincial coinage with the names of Roman officials. As these pieces are of great scientific importance, Johannes Nollé wrote a detailed commentary about the matter. Those who are interested in more than the usual Roman emperors will encounter Roman officials such as Proconsul Q. Hortensius Hortalus and Proconsul M. Tullius Cicero – the sons of much more famous politicians of the same names– or the Roman self-made man Vedius Pollio. But there are also better-known personalities on offer such as Publius Quinctilius Varus or the Praefectus of Judaea, Pontius Pilate.

Part 8 of the Dr. W. R. Collection is a perfect opportunity for all those who want to add coins of the imperators and especially of relatives of the Twelve Caesars to their collections. The ensemble includes eleven coins of the family of Pompey, namely of all three politically active members, Pompey Magnus and his two sons. 17 coins related to Caesar are on offer as well as the issues of his assassins, including a denarius with the extremely rare portrait of Brutus.

Are you looking for a portrait of the early deceased grandsons of Augustus, Caius and Lucius? Auction 396 offers many pieces to choose from, in addition to coins from the notorious sisters of Caligula, Drusilla and Livilla. Or would you like a portrait of Britannicus, the early deceased son of Claudius who should have come to power instead of Nero? The Dr. W. R. Collection contains as many as five pieces with his portrait. And it should also be mentioned that, in addition, there are interesting denarii and bronze issues on offer, including some aurei of the classic Twelve Caesars.

 

No. 1013: Achulla / Africa Propria (today's Tunisia). Bronze coin, 8/7 BC. Obv. Portraits of Augustus with Gaius and Lucius. Rv. Portrait of Publius Quinctilius Varus. Extremely rare. About fine. Estimate: 4,000 euros

By supporting Rome in the Third Punic War, Achulla gained the status of a free city. On its coins, the city fathers not only depicted the emperor but also Roman governors. One of them is Publius Quinctilius Varus, who became famous due to his failure in the Teutoburg Forest.

 

No. 1017: Macedonia. Bronze coin, before Caesar's death(?), Dion or Kassandreia. Head of Q. Hortensius Hortalus. Rv. Yoke, plough and yardstick with vexillum. Very rare. Fine +. Estimate: 1,500 euros

Quintus Hortensius Hortalus was the son of the famous public speaker of the same name, to whom Cicero dedicated a tract. Young Hortalus was a partisan of Caesar and among the first to cross the Rubicon. For his efforts, he was rewarded with the position as governor of the province of Macedonia. After Caesar's death, Octavian and Marcus Antonius planned to take it away from him. As a result, Hortalus joined Caesar's assassins. In this way, he could remain a proconsul while Brutus was the de facto ruler. However, Hortalus backed the wrong horse. After the defeat of Caesar's assassins in the Battle of Philippi, Hortalus was executed.

 

No. 1112: Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and Marcus Eppius. Denarius, 47/6, African mint. Extremely fine +. Estimate: 1,000 euros

 

No. 1124: C. Iulius Caesar. Denarius, 44 BC. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 3,000 euros

 

No. 1134: Marcus Iunius Brutus and L. Servius Rufus. Denarius, 43. Very rare. Very fine. Estimate: 4,000 euros

 

No. 1143: Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus. Denarius, 41 BC, unknown mint. From Sternberg auction XVIII (1986), No. 374. Rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 6,000 euros

 

No. 1292: Tiberius and L. Aelius Sejanus. As, 31, Bilbilis (Hispania). From the Leo Benz Collection, Lanz auction 94 (1999), No. 162. About extremely fine. Estimate: 1,500 euros

Lucius Aelius Sejanus was a prefect of the Praetorian Guard under Tiberius, who had withdrawn to the island of Capri. Since the emperor was not around, Sejanus virtually became the most powerful man in Rome. He was brought down in 31. It is impossible to verify whether he actually planned to murder Caligula and wanted the imperial throne for himself. The sources are too biased and do not allow us to objectively assess the situation. Sejanus fell victim to the damnatio memoriae after he died. Therefore, his name was erased from coins. Regarding this piece, his name is still visible.

 

No. 1332: Caligula and Drusilla. Miletus (Ionia). Bronze coin, after 38. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 1,250 euros

 

No. 1368: Claudius with Britannicus, Claudia and Claudia Octavia. Patras (Peloponnese). Bronze coin, around 41-45. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 2,500 euros

 

No. 1400: Nero and Agrippina Junior. Denarius, 54. Rare. Very fine +. Estimate: 1,000 euros

 

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