NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: MAY 5, 2024

Octavian and Julius Caesar Aureus

Octavian, as Consul (ca. 43 BC), with Julius Caesar, as Dictator Perpetuo and Pontifex Maximus. AV aureus (18mm, 8.16 gm, 5h). NGC Choice XF 3/5 - 4/5. Military mint in Transalpine and Cisalpine Gaul, July-August 43 BC. C•CAESAR•COS•PONT•AVG• (partially ligate), bare head of Octavian right / C•CAESAR•DICT•PERP•PONT•-MAX• (partially ligate), laureate head of Julius Caesar right. Calicó 52b (this coin). Crawford 490/2 (R3). Sydenham 1321. Julia 64. Newman "A Dialogue of Power in the Coinage of Antony and Octavian," ANS AJN 2 (1990), 43.9. Very rare, one of exceedingly few near-contemporary portraits of Julius Caesar in gold. Wonderful central strike of the obverse, with clear and naturalistic details of Caesar on the reverse.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 132 (30 May 2022), lot 463; Münzhandlung Basel, Auction 6 (18 March 1936), lot 1521.

A goal of many collectors of the Roman series is to obtain a portrait set of the first Twelve Caesars in gold aurei. The main impediment to assembling such a set is the difficulty in obtaining the very first portrait, Julius Caesar. While relatively plentiful in silver and bronze, actual portraits of Caesar in gold are surprisingly scant, with likely fewer than 50 of all known types extant. The type struck closest to Caesar's lifetime is the present example, issued by his grand-nephew and adoptive heir Octavian; the coin was likely struck at a military mint in southern Gaul upon his assumption of the Consulship in July 43 BC (since the obverse titles omit any reference to the yet-to-be-formed Second Triumvirate with Marc Antony and Lepidus, the type cannot have been struck in 40 BC as asserted in Calicó). The portrait of Caesar on the reverse makes no reference to his pending deification, but repeats his names and titles as they stood upon his assassination, on 15 March 44 BC. The portrait is accurately realistic and shows the great dictator as a prematurely aged man of 54, with sunken jowls and a long turkey-like neck. All other portrait gold coins depicting Caesar, all excessively rare, were struck much longer after his death and sport more idealized portraits.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Ancients: Octavian, as Consul (ca. 43 BC), with Julius Caesar, as Dictator Perpetuo and Pontifex Maximus. AV aureus (1... (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-octavian-as-consul-ca-43-bc-with-julius-caesar-as-dictator-perpetuo-and-pontifex-maximus-av-aureus-1/a/3115-31042.s)

Heart-Shaped Halfpenny

British Tokens, Seventeenth Century Tokens, Cheshire, Macclesfield, Nathaniell Poole, heart-shaped halfpenny, 1668 23X21 mm 1,53 gr

To read the complete lot description, see:
England. British Tokens, Seventeenth Century Tokens. Heart-shaped halfpenny 1668 (No Reserve Price) (https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/83424367)

French Colonies Sou with RF Counterstamp

1767-A (1793) Sou. Paris Mint. Breen-701. RF Counterstamp. Rotated Counterstamp. VF-30 (PCGS).

186.6 grains. The misplaced counterstamp is located to the lower left of center on the crowned wreath side of the coin, and rotated approximately 45 degrees counterclockwise from normal alignment.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1767-A (1793) Sou. Paris Mint. Breen-701. RF Counterstamp. Rotated Counterstamp. VF-30 (PCGS). (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-19FNDI/1767-a-1793-sou-paris-mint-breen-701-rf-counterstamp-rotated-counterstamp-vf-30-pcgs)

Civil War Cardboard Postage Stamp Token

Civil War Cardboard Postage Stamp Token, three known of type of emergency money, very rare type. Stoddart's Extensive Retail Dry Goods Establishment 450, 452 & 454 N. 2d. St. Philad'a (1500-2000)

To read the complete lot description, see:
Civil War Cardboard Postage Stamp Token Stoddart's Very Rare Type Three Known (https://www.ebay.com/itm/386978425313)

Amon Carter, Jr. Letters
Letters from Amon Carter, Jr., Prominent Texas Newspaperman, Regarding His Collection of Rare Coin and Paper Money, 1955-1960, 1976-1977 51 typed and handwritten letters, most with original envelopes (about 3 inches) Generally very good plus or better with creases at old folds, a bit of age toning and some scattered spotting. One handwritten note with light edge wear not affecting any content. A nice collection of typed and handwritten letters from Amon Carter, Jr. to an associate in Massachusetts, Ed Bearse, regarding the collecting of rare coin and paper money.

Amon Gamaliel Carter, Jr. was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1919. His father had struck it rich on Texas oil and become publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, co-founder of American Airlines, and an avid numismatist and significant collector of currency. Carter, Jr. followed greatly in his footsteps. He served in World War II and was imprisoned by the Germans at Oflag 64, where he managed to "publish" a newspaper for the camp on toilet paper.

Upon his father's death in 1955 he took over leadership of the Star-Telegram and was said to have kept his collection of rare coins in a room-size vault on one wall of his office. As a director of American Airlines, Carter was instrumental in moving its headquarters to Fort Worth in 1957, and in 1960 he was named to the 18-member Assay Commission, a federal agency that tests and certifies the weight and quality of United States Treasury coins. After his passing in 1982, much of his impressive collection of national and world currency was consigned to Stack's, who distributed the pieces in a series of auctions spanning several years.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Letters from a Prominent Texas Newspaperman, Regarding His Collection of Rare Coin and Paper Money (https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31848000055)

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