Auction of Ancient Coin And
Antiquities - Greek Coins - Celts in Britain
Sunday, November 23, 1997
573. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. An interesting clay tablet with a clear cylinder seal impression. The text indicates payment of workers for canal work. The seal shows a presentation scene with one standing figure, and a three line cuneiform inscription. D: 45 x 40 mm. Choice! $750
574. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. A beautiful clay tablet with very neat script. This is an inventory for grain tablet. Virtually perfect except for a minor chip. D: 60 x 40 mm. $450
575. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. Another neatly inscribed tablet of somewhat irregular rectangular shape apparently for grain inventory written by two different scribes. D: 68 x 40 mm. Two neat holes might indicate use of the tablet as a bulla. $450
576. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. A much larger than usual account tablet which describes the value of silver for certain amounts of barley. D: 12 x 7 cm. The tablet is filled with inscriptions and it is very well preserved with only some minor chipping on one edge. $2000
577. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. A completely intact tablet with writing in cuneiform as an accounting for goats and sheep on all six surfaces. D: 40 x 35 mm. $400
578. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. A small cuneiform tablet still residing within its original envelope which is partly opened. (The envelope fragments still accompany the tablet.) The exposed part of the tablet indicates its use as a receipt for barley. There are some vestiges of cylinder seal impressions on the envelope. D: 40 x 35 mm over-all. A fascinating piece! $750
579. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. A dark clay bulla of darker than usual color, the holes for the string ties are extant but the cords are gone. Apparently this bulla was a receipt for sheep. D: 50 x 55 x 35 mm. Interesting and rarer than brick-shaped tablets. $400
580. Ur III Period, c. 2112-2004 B.C. A rare "messenger" tablet with a record of amounts of barley, bread, oil, beer, and alkalai given to a messenger. Written in very fine script. D: 22 x 20 mm. a small and rarely offered type of tablet. $500
581. Ur III Period, c. 2047-2029 B.C. Alabaster fragment from the lower part of a vessel with the remains of a Sumerian cuneiform inscription of nine lines which remain. Some lines are lost. The readable part translates: For Inanna of Uruk, (mistress) of heaven and earth, his (lady), for the life of (Amar/Shu) -Sin, (the god) of the land." This votive offering was made by either King Amar-Sin, c. 2047-2038 B.C. or King Shu-sin, c. 2038-2029 B.C. Dim: 75 x 96 mm. Important! $2000
582. Old Babylonian Period, Uruk, c. 2004-1595 B.C. King Sin-kashid. Small clay votive cone dedicatory inscription in cuneiform. Similar tablets, mostly larger, were placed into the temple walls. Small examples such as this 6 cm example are very scarce. Choice condition. Said to be from Warka. $1000
583. Old Babylonian Period, c. 2004-1595 B.C. A square shaped clay tablet with cuneiform on four of the six surfaces. The inscription deals with a receipt for silver. Dimensions: 35mm. Minor chip in corner, otherwise a very desirable example. $400
584. Isin-Larsa Period, King Ishme-Dagan, c. 1954-1935 B.C. a royal inscription on a dedicatory clay cone written in cuneiform in two columns which translate to: Isme-Dagan, mighty man, King of Isin, King of the four world regions, when he canceled the taxes of Nippur, the city beloved of Enlil, and excused its men from military service, he built the city wall of Isin. The name of that wall is; Ishme-Dagan is a great...beside Enlil." H: 7". Choice! $2000
"These cones were placed in hollows of the walls of big buildings which the king had built so that future generations would know who had built the buildings." Dr W. G. Lambert
585. Neo-Babylonian Period, c. 1155-539 B.C. A very small clay account tablet for receipt of flour, dated to the time of Nabonidus. D: 30 x 25 mm. Surviving tablets from this late period are scarce. $350
586. Neo-Babylonian Period, c. 1155-539 B.C. A large thick tablet with neatly written script apparently a type called a contract tablet used in a land sale negotiation, dated to the time of Cyrus. A part of the tablet has a bite out of it, and along one blank side appear to be two fingernail "prints" used as a signature. D: 60 x 50 x 22 mm. A very early "real estate" document! $500
587. A lot of two Ur III small clay tablets that are intact but mostly unreadable. D: 40 x 300 mm; 20 x 20. $100/2
SEALS AND AMULETS
588. Mesopotamia, Jemdt Nasr, c. 3000-2800 B.C. a seal-amulet in the form of a lying bull carved from light pink marble with gray mottling. On flat base are two globular-shaped animals. Drilled for suspension. Size: 32 x 10 x 10 mm. Cp. Buchanan Yale, #116; Hogarth, Hittite Seals, p. 55, fig. 57. $600
589. Mesopotamia, Post-Akkad, c. 2200 B.C. A black chlorite cylinder seal divided into two horizontal registers: upper with man and woman, star in between, in profile and facing large scorpion; bottom with top view of lizard and lunar crescent. L: 32mm. A nice example, with uncommon motif. $800
590. Mesopotamia and Syria, 3rd - 2nd mill. B.C. a lot of three steatite stamp seals mostly worn. $150/3
591. Margiana, Murghab Basin, c. 2000 B.C. a dark chlorite double-sided seal, pierced longitudinally for wearing. On one side is a single winged stylized lion with partial representation of a serpent.. The other side depicts the "tree of life." Size: 30 x 28 x 11 mm. Cp. G. Ligabue, Bactria, p. 172, figs 17, 18. Rare and very nicely preserved. $800
592. Anatolia, Cappadocia, 19th cent. B. C. Hematite cylinder of provincial Old Babylonian style, with presentation scene. God in ascending pose wearing horned mitre and holding elaborate scepter. Facing him, worshipper with hand raised and goddess in flounced robe and tiered mitre. In field: bird, fish, star and inscription in two registers: "Dingir Shamash, Dingir Aya." A few minor chips or nicks, otherwise intact with modest wear. L: 25.6 mm. $1850
593. Neo-Babylonian, 6th cent B.C. Conical stamp in clear deep gray chalcedony, with warm gray bandings. Contest scene with bearded hero, in tunic and open fringed robe, holding sword and contending with rampant bull. Some edge nicks, minor wear. Good example of type. H: 26 mm.; base L: 20.2 mm. $575
594. Early Achaemenid-Babylon, late 6th cent. BC. Big conical stamp seal with warm gray to faintly bluish chalcedony. Intaglio of "Master of Animals," neatly engraved and still very much in the Neo-Babylonian style, such as that of preceding lot. Hero wears distinctive Persian garment. The sphinxes with feathered crowns. Intact and pristine. H: 31 mm.; base L: 22.6 mm. One of the nicest examples we've handled in recent years, the conoid stamp itself elegantly shaped. $1850
595. Greco-Persian, later 5th - early 4th cent BC. Scaraboid engraved with siren in a very clear and pale white-gray chalcedony. She stands playing lyre. Pleasant work but sides and back of seal cut down; essentially face and intaglio intact. L: 21.6 mm. $1500
While an unusual motif for the Classical Period in the Greco-Persian series, it is not unknown peripherally in the Archaic. The use of drilling in the face, the feet and the not wholly successful attempt at the modeling of the three-quarters profile torso should clearly indicate this gem to be part of the series.
596. Greco-Persian Afghanistan, ca. 4th-3rd cent. BC. Well fashioned scaraboid in yellow and white chalcedony. Soldier, mounted on horse, spears attacking rampant lion. Large chip, scaraboid body carefully repolished. L: 26 mm. A fine, bold example of the frequently cursory late Greco-Persian series. $450
597. Late Hellenistic/Greco-Roman, 2nd-1st cent BC. Large ringstone of attractive honey orange colored carnelian. Device: rampant centaur in profile playing a large lyre. Minor wear with some edge chips and nicks. Simple but stylish work. Interestingly, the piece subsequently found and used as an amulet or charm, for a hole was bored through the middle to be strung!! Size: 19 x 21 mm. $700
More Near Eastern Antiquities
598. Syria, Tel Halaf, prior to c. 2000 B.C. a much stylized clay figure of a "Mother Goddess" with rounded, fecund attributes. This example somewhat darker in color. H: 5 cm $800
599. Iran, Ardebile, ca. 1000 BC. Unusual black ware vessel of five small pots, two pairs flanking a central one, joined into one. Each a simple globular pot on stalk-like foot. Repaired with some restorations. L: 6.5". Interesting and scarce. $400
600. Iran, Ardebile, Proto-Achaemenid, ca. 500 BC. Little bowl in burnished orange ware, with carinated waist and funnel-like mouth. Painted ornament of red triangles around rim, with simple linear bird in tondo. Small spot of rim restoration, otherwise choice condition. W: 6.2". Nice. $600
601. North Iran, Azerbaijan, ca. 500 BC. Attractive zoomorphic vessel in gray-brown ware. Vessel modeled as a long-bodied ram, having stylized head and spout mouth, with vessel mouth on back. Finger striations add decoration and texture to piece. Some repairs and restorations to head and back. L: 8.5". $950
602. Western Iran (Luristan) or Southern Caspian, ca. 1300-700 BC. A handsomely crafted bronze sword blade, tapering but with flaring and rounded shoulders and short tang. Blade with converging blood channels at top, and channels and rib running the length of blade. Ancient crack at upper blade on one side, otherwise pristine with fine olive green patina. L: 16.75". Nice! $400
604. Western Iran (Luristan) or Southern Caspian, ca. 1300-800 BC. Two medium spear blades in bronze. Both with modest reinforcing mid-rib, but thick conical necks and short tangs. Some edge chips, but both with attractive thick emerald green patina, plus an earthen patina still showing the imprint of the leather or wood that laid against these blades. L: 13.9"; 15.25". $375/2
605. Western Iran, Luristan, ca. 1200-800 BC. Hefty bracelet or anklet in bronze of crescentic form, with pleasant light green patina. Each end with engraved bands of chevron designs. Intact and choice. Scarce to see such sizable examples these days. W: 4.6". $300
606. Western Iran, Luristan, c. 1000-700 B.C Wrought and shaped bronze bar in the form of a girdle clasp. The hammered sheet with raised bosses, and engraved triangles with hatching and punched dots. The wire ends as simplified serpent heads. L: 14.5 cm.; with fine green patina. CF. Moorey, no. 458; de Waere, no. 340. Rare and perfect. $700
607. North Western Iran (Talish?) or Southern Caspian, ca. 850-550 BC. Fine socketed spear point. Leaf-shaped blade with wide midrib. Socket of wrapped sheet, with wire rivet still in place. Intact and pristine, with green and tan patina. L: 17.75". CF. Moorey, no. 89. An exceptional specimen! $425
608. Neo Assyria, c. 800-700 B.C. a carved hematite fragment of a bull's head with triangular section in bull's forehead which must have been inlaid. The open eye sockets similarly suggest the piece was heavily decorated with inlay work. L: 4 cm on professional stand. A beautiful piece. $1450
Beads
Afghanistan, The Pamir Mountains, the ancient source for lapis lazuli. There are four different stands of ancient lapis beads to follow:
609. A strand of seventy-eight beads, many of which are amulets. Strand's length 40". $1000 up
610. A strand of seventy-six lapis lazuli beads with some relatively larger pieces. L: 32". $1000 up
611. An excellent strand of over 100 beads, some intact birds, some inlaid, a rather exceptional lot. L: 24". $1500 up
612. The balance of the collection of lapis lazuli beads, consisting of eighteen amulets, one larger fish (4 cm), and some scaraboid shapes. $500 up
Related Literature
613. J L. Benson, Bamboula at Kourion, Univ. of Pennsylvania Press, 1972. 8vo, dj, xvi +173 pp. + 74 plates + an article on seals by Edith Porada with a page of plates. As new! $50
614. (Cuneiform) E. Bezold, Catalogue of the Cuneiform Tablets in the Kouyunjik Collection in the British Museum, London,. vols. 1, 2, 4, 5 plus index volume, 1889-1914. (Some wear on covers, contents good with many plates. Missing vol. III.) Rare. $500
615 (Cuneiform) Albert T. Clay, Temple Archives of Nippur, Philadelphia, 1906, Series A: Cuneiform Texts. 4to wr. $125
616. Nathan Davis, Phoenician Inscriptions from Carthage at the British Museum, London, 1863. Large folio spine worn and taped. $200
617. William G. Pengelly, Ancient Safeguards Against Forgery, Columbus, Ohio, 1924. pc.7 pp. + ills. of clay tablets. $20
Pengelly was the former owner of most of the cuneiform tablets in this auction. He was a professional handwriting analyst.
618. W. M. Flinders Petrie, AMULETS, London, 1914. Contents very clean, plates excellent, binding a bit worn and dirty. The reprint we did in 1972 of this work now sells for more than $100. $250
619. Sir W. M. Flinders Petrie, Illahun, Kahun and Gurob, Encino, 1978 reprint. $100
620. Sir W. M. Flinders Petrie, Scarabs and Cylinders With Names, Encino, 1978 reprint. $100
621. E. Pfister, TISSUS COPTES du Musee du Louvre, Paris, 1932. Portfolio of the finest Coptic textiles, tipped-in color on 48 frameable plates. Very rare and important for Coptic textile collectors. $550
622. Gisela M. A. Richter, The Sculpture and Sculptors of the Greeks, New Haven, 1930, 2nd edition. xxxiv + 613 pp. with 767 monochrome ills. cloth binding somewhat faded and worn, contents fine. $175
623. Gisela M. A. Richter, Handbook of the Greek Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cambridge, 1953. (Newly rebound). $50
624. Erich F. Schmidt, Excavations at Tepe Hissar 1931, University Museum, Museum Journal, Volume XXIII, No. 4., Philadelphia, 1933. pc. $50
625. Bernhard Schweitzer, Greek Geometric Art, London, 1971. DJ, inked dedication inside front cover. Important work! $65
626. Cornelius C. Vermeule, Greek and Roman Sculpture in America, Malibu, 1981. dj. $65
A fully illustrated volume on masterpieces in public collections in the USA and Canada.
627. Marie-Louise Vollenweider, Catalogue Raisonne Des Sceaux Cylindres et Intailles, Volume I, Geneva, 1967. dj. ex libris Joel L. Malter Library duplicate. $225
628. Walters Art Gallery, Early Christian and Byzantine Art, Baltimore, 1947. $100
629. H. B. Walters, The Art of the Greeks and the Art of the Romans, London, Methuen and Co., 1909, 1913. $100/2
630. Ernest Wright, Biblical Archaeology, Philadelphia, 1952. 4tp, dj. $35
631. Sir Leonard Woolley, Ur Excavations, Volume VI, The Buildings of the Third Dynasty, Philadelphia, 1974. 4to. Mint copy! $125
632. Christian Zervos, L'Art De La Crete, Neolithique et Minoenne, Paris,1956. Folio. Top book in excellent condition with many excellent plates on ancient Cretan art. $200
633. Christian Zervos, L'Art de la Mesopotamie, Bale, 1935. Rare edition with marvelous plates. F olio. $125
A little wear on spine.
Numismatic Books
634. Michael Amandry, "Le Monnayage en bronze de Bibulus, Atratinus et Capito II, "Extract from Revue Suisse de Numismatique, Vol. 66, 1987, pp-112 + 11 important plates. (signed by author). $25
635. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, Sylloge Numorum Graecorum, Part IV, Paeonia-Thessaly, London, 1981. folio. $65
636. Ernest Babelon, Trait des Monnaies Grecques Et Romaines, Monnaies Orientales. Three important volumes on Ancient Persian coins. Vol 1, Introduction-Arsacides, Paris, 1927. Some wear to original binding. Vol 1, Perside-Elymaide-Characene, Paris 1930, nice condition but binding in need of repair. Also coin plates, Vol 1, Perside-Elymaide-Characene, Paris 1930, nice condition. $500/3
637. British Museum, A Guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian Antiquities, London, 1908. loose boards. $45
638. Adrien Blanchet and Gabriel Millet, MELANGES Offerts a M. Gustave Schlumberger, Paris, 1924, 2 volumes bound in one. 4to. Rare $300
An important "festshrift" with articles on Byzantine coins and seals, the evolution of coinage by De Morgan, articles on cylinder seals, lamps etc. covering the encyclopaedic interests of one of France's most prominent numismatists, Gustave Schlumberger.
639. British Museum, Percy Gardner, Catalogue of Greek Coins, Peloponnesus, London, 1887. Ex Libris Joel L. Malter duplicate. (Rebound with original spine.) Most plates extremely sharp, a few age spots as typical of this series printed over a century ago. Still indispensable. $225
640. Sir George F. Hill, Becker the Counterfeiter, London, 1965 reprint. $65
641. Colin M. Kraay, Archaic and Classical Greek Coins, Berkeley, 1976. dj ( minor stain on side.) $150
642. Frederic W. Madden, History of Jewish Coinage, London 1864, Ex. Libris Robert Day. Original binding, corners a little bumped or chipped, contents VF plus.. $150
643. Harold Mattingly & Edward A. Sydenham, The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. IV, part I . London, 1986 reprint.$150
644. J. May, The Coinage of Abdera, 540-345 B.C., London, 1966, Royal Numismatic Society, Special Publication No. 3. dj. $75
645 E. Mionnet, De La Rarete et du prix des Medailles Romaines, Paris, 1815. 8vo. 567 pp. Original board bindings, weak. $150
646. Auction Catalogues: Numismatic fine Arts, sales 18, 26,27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33 + mail bid sale 10/18/90. Plus I. Vecchi, sales 1, 4, 5 along with Frank Sternberg. sales 28, 29, and Freeman & Sear, Mail Bid sales 1-3 plus Berk sale of 3/23/95 and Munzen und Medaillen, Basel, sale 79, some with pr's.. $150/lot
647. Auction Catalogues P & P Santamaria, Collezioni del Conte Luigi Brunacci, Monete della Repubblica Romana, Monete Greche, Rome, 22-28 Feb. 1958. 1466 lots, 30 tissue guarded plates. Ex Libris Jole L. malter. $75
648. Auction Catalogues Sotheby's, The Hunt Sale, catalogues of June and December 1990 in six parts hardbound; plus October 26-28, 1993 in three parts and December 9-10, 1993. The latter two soft bound. $500/9
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