CIVITAS Galleries - Ancient

Search results: "Ancient_Coins" ""

Ancient Judaean Widow's Mite and Crucifixion Period Roman Nail in Display Frame -- #BU77984

Attractive matte black floating frame which contains one 'Widow's Mite' coin and one iron nail made during the first century A.D. under the Roman Empire.

The 'Widow's Mite' is a small bronze coin from ancient Judaea which was minted during the Hasmonean Dynasty of 140-37 BCE. It is mentioned in the Bible in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4:

'He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, 'Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.'

The nail comes from the Roman fortress at Inchtuthil, which was the northernmost Roman fortress in England/Scotland. It was likely commissioned in about 82 A.D. by Gnaeus Julius Agricola in his fight against the Caledonian tribes. When it was excavated in the 1950s by Sir Ian Richmond, a large pit was found in the summer of 1960 containing 875,400 complete iron nails ranging from 2-16 inches and weighing 7 tons (Inchuthil Nails by Roddy Fraser) and other iron objects, inc cartwheel rims weighing a combined total of ten tonnes. The pit was elaborately concealed, and the nails and ironwork were almost certainly buried by the troops to prevent their use in weaponsmithing by the local tribes when they dismantled the fortress before they finally left. Many of the nails were sent to museums as a gift and the rest of the hoard was sold to the public and other interested organisations with an offer of 5 shillings for an 8 to 10 inch nail and 25 shillings for a boxed set of 5 nails. Colville's (Iron and Steel refiners) who had been given the task of sorting and storing the nails state quite clearly that all the nails had been 'sorted gifted and sold' within 3 years of their discovery. C1963. (Wikipedia, Inchtuthil. Originally 'The Inchtuthil Nail Hoard'. Roman Scotland. 2008. Retrieved 2014-04-30).

While these nails could not have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus under Pontius Pilate, they are of the same type and manufacture as those that would have been used.

The frame's exterior dimensions measure 4in. X 4in. X 1.5in. and it has a strong but pliable film which secures the nail and coin in place. They can be easily removed and handled and replaced in the frame. The frame will stand nicely on your desk or bookshelf.

Each set comes with a lithograph certificate of authenticity from Harlan J Berk. Additionally, the sleeve for the frame bears an HJB Verified label.

An excellent gift for the holiday season.

$ 69.95

Celts in Eastern Europe Imitating Philip III of Macedon ca. 3rd-2nd Century B.C. Tetradrachm VF -- #AC92749

AR Tetradrachm 29mm. 15.50g.

Celticized head of Herakles r.

Stylized Zeus enthroned left, holding eagle and sceptre.

Lanz 910

VF. Toned and lustrous with hints of iridescence. A nice example struck with heavily degraded dies. Some faint tiny marks and trace porosity, as expected.

$ 175.00

Eastern Europe Danubian Celts ca. 2nd-1st Centuries B.C. Tetradrachm EF -- #AC100531

AR Tetradrachm 34mm. 16.70g. Mint in the lower Danube region.

Diademed and draped bust of Artemis r., quiver at shoulder, in center of Macedonian shield.

Club; monogram above; all within oak wreath; thunderbolt to l.
MAKEDONWN PRWTHS

Lanz 1009

EF. Lightly toned and brightly lustrous. Wonderful example, better than most. Struck with very worn obverse die, as typical for this type. Imitating Macedonian First Meris coinage.

$ 650.00

Spain Castulo c. 2nd Century B.C. Unit VF -- #AC100575

AE Unit 26mm. 14.00g.

DIademed head, r.; open hand in r. field.

Sphinx r., star before; letter 'ko' in r. field; In ex.: KASTILO (in Iberian script)

SNG Copenhagen 211-12

VF. Green patina with tan fill. Attractive obverse. Typical light roughness and flan irregularities.

$ 75.00

Campania Neapolis Diophanes, as magistrate ca. 320-300 B.C. Didrachm Good VF -- #AC100412

AR Didrachm 20mm. 7.50g.

Diademed head of nymph r. wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; grapes to l., DIOFANOYS below.

Man headed bull r. crowned by Nike, r.; DI-QE between legs and in r. field; In ex.: NEOPOLITHS

HN Italy 571; SNG ANS -- (316-8 var. for obverse; 333 for reverse - same die)

Good VF. Rare. Lightly toned with much remaining lustre. Excellent detail remaining.

This example shows far better preservation of the miniscule legend below the bust than most. This obverse is not present in the ANS collection (unless ANS 316-318 simply have the magistrate's name filled, worn, or off the flan), while the reverse die is the same as on the ANS 333 example (a reverse only shown paired with obverses bearing dolphin around the nymph).This obverse/reverse combination is thus not present in the ANS collection, and is seemingly very rare.

$ 795.00

Calabria Tarentum ca. 272-240 B.C. Nomos (Didrachm) VF -- #AC93897

AR Nomos (Didrachm) 20mm. 6.30g.

Youth on horseback r., crowning horse and holding rein; SY to r.; LYKI/NOS beneath horse.

Phalanthos, brandishing trident, riding dolphin l.; owl in r. field.
TARAS

SNG ANS 1165ff.

VF. Lightly toned and lustrous. Reverse a bit off-center.

$ 375.00

Calabria Tarentum ca. 272-240 B.C. Nomos (Didrachm) VF -- #AC93898

AR Nomos (Didrachm) 19mm. 6.40g.

Youth on horseback r., crowning horse and holding rein; SY to r.; LYKI/NOS beneath horse.

Phalanthos, brandishing trident, riding dolphin l.; owl in r. field.
TARAS

SNG ANS 1165ff.

VF. Lightly toned and lustrous. A bit off-center.

$ 350.00

Lucania Metapontion (Metapontum) ca. 330-290 B.C. Stater (Nomos) VF -- #AC98051

AR Stater (Nomos) 22mm. 7.90g.

Head of Demeter, l., wearing grain wreath.

Ear of barley, leaf to l.; tongs above leaf, AQA below; META upward on r.

HN Italy 1583; SNG ANS 458ff.; Johnston C4

VF. Lightly toned and lustrous. Softly struck with weak centers.

$ 375.00

Sicily Akragas before 406 B.C. Hexas Good Fine -- #AC79210

AE Hexas 20mm. 6.60g.

Eagle standing r. on fish.

Crab; two pellets below to l. and r.; fish below.

SNG ANS 1051

Good Fine. Dark green patina. Flan flaws on obverse.

$ 145.00

Sicily Selinos ca. 455-440 B.C. Didrachm VF -- #AC99591

AR Didrachm 23mm. 8.60g.

Herakles standing r., holding club overhead preparing to strike the Cretan Bull, standing r., which he holds by a horn.
SELINOTION

River god Hypsas standing l., holding branch and phiale from which he sacrifices over serpent-entwined altar to l.; to r., selinon leaf above heron walking r.
HYPAS

SNG ANS 702ff.; HGC 2, 1224

VF. Scarce. Lightly toned with some remaining lustre. Struck with worn obverse die. A few minor marks under magnification.

$ 1650.00

Sicily ca. 300-241 B.C. AE14 Near VF -- #AC99316

AE14 14mm. 2.72g. Uncertain Punic mint

Laureate male head, l.

Forepart of horse r., dolphin below to r.

SNG ANS —; HGC 2, 1260 (Soulos), Lindgren II 503 (Panormos)

Near VF. Rare. Black-green glossy patina. Minor roughness. Quite rare. Variously attributed to Panormos (as Ziz), Solous (as Kefra), or to another uncertain Punic settlement in Sicily.

$ 95.00

Sicily Akragas ca. 338-317 B.C. AE18 Fine -- #AC99310

AE18 18mm. 3.05g.

Laureate head of Zeus l., [AKRAGA] before.

Eagle standing l. on hare, (delta) below wing.

SNG ANS 1113-16

Fine. Dark green patina. Moderate roughness.

$ 35.00

Sicily Akragas ca. 420-406 B.C. Tetras Good Fine -- #AC99311

AE Tetras 20mm. 7.52g.

Eagle standing r., head lowered, hare in talons; [AKRA](?) to l., symbol(?) above.

Crab; three pellets above crayfish below.

SNG ANS 1034ff.

Good Fine. Dark brown patina. Large pit on reverse. Some mild roughness.

$ 60.00

Sicily Akragas ca. 420-406 B.C. Hexas Fine -- #AC99312

AE Hexas 20mm. 6.90g.

Eagle standing r., head lowered, fish in talons; [AKRA] around.

Crab; pellet to l. and r., fish below.

SNG ANS 1047ff.

Fine. Brown mottled patina. Some mild roughness. Cleaning scratches on reverse.

$ 50.00

Sicily Catana ca. 3rd-2nd Century B.C. Dekonkia Good Fine -- #AC99313

AE Dekonkia 19mm. 4.66g.

Jugate heads of Sarapis and Isis, r.

Apollo standing l., holding bow and branch and resting one arm on pillar, omphalos to l.; [KATANAIWN] around.

SNG ANS 1276-7

Good Fine. Rare. Green-red mottled patina. Minor roughness. Some cleaning marks and smoothing, especially on reverse. A budget example of a rare type.