NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER)
0.00CHF+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2010 Mar 24 @ 14:00UTC+1
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The Roman Empire. Caracalla augustus, 198–217. Aureus 202-204, AV 7.28g. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. COS LVDOS SAECVL FEC Liber, on l., standing r., holding cap and thyrsus; on r., Hercules, standing l., holding club and lion’s skin. At feet of Liber, panther. C 51 var. (not cuirassed). BMC p. 207 note 275A. RIC 74b. Calicó 2668. Extremely rare and a very interesting type. Minor edge marks, possibly traces of mounting, otherwise about extremely fine. Ex Helios sale 1, 2008, 317. From the Frank Kovacs collection. In 204 the Severans were afforded a rare opportunity of hosting one of the most solemn of Roman festivals, the Saecular Games (the Ludi Saeculares). The games were designed to be held once every age of man (110 years according to the ancient calculation) such that no person could live long enough to witness more than one of the games. The custom derives from quasi-historical period of the early Republic, and is based upon the Etruscan custom of defining the first saecular period by the lifespan of the longest lived person born on the day a city was founded. In the case of Rome this was determined by the death of its second king, Numa Pompilius. By the time of the empire the date was fixed by Varro’s foundation date of April 21, 753 B.C., which was the basis for the Roman Ab Urbe Condita calendar. Considering the solemnity of the saecular games, they had a rather irreverent history in the imperial period. The first emperor to hold them was Augustus, in 17 B.C., who observed the traditional 110-year cycle. Domitian followed in A.D. 88, with his games being six years ahead of schedule, and when the Severans staged their games in 204, it restored the 110-year cycle of Augustus. Some other emperors, however, were more creative. It was none other than the learned Claudius who in A.D. 47 introduced an alternative cycle for the games, based upon a century instead of a 110-year cycle–rather an interesting occurrence since Claudius had investigated Etruscan customs so deeply that he is said to have written many volumes on the subject. Whatever his reasoning, Claudius held saecular games on the 800th anniversary of Rome's foundation, and from that point onward there were essentially two sets of games. The Claudian ‘century cycle’ was observed by Antoninus Pius in 147/8 (though seemingly without his using the term saecular) and by Philip the Arab, whose saecular games of 247/8 marked the millennium of Rome. Gallienus and Maximian also held secular games, though neither adhered to the Augustan or Claudian cycle. It is possible that they represent half-cycles, meaning that Gallienus' games of about 260 were held 55 years after the Severan games of 204, and those of Maximian approximated a half-Claudian cycle after Philip's games of 244. The last ones were held in 404, an indulgence that Honorius allowed pagans in light of Stilicho's victory over Alaric. This aureus commemorates the games held by the Severans in 204. They largely followed the traditions of Augustus, but the hymn was re-written to give more prominence to the emperor and his family, and even though essential honours were paid to Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, Diana, the coinage suggests it was Hercules and Liber Pater who presided over the whole occasion. The Roman equivalents of the Punic gods Melqart and Shadrapa, Hercules and Liber Pater were the guardian deities of Severus' hometown of Lepcis Magna, and were the adopted patrons of Caracalla and Geta. These ancestral gods of Lepcis were invoked by Severus after his victory over the army of Pescennius Niger at Cyzicus, and Dio Cassius reports that Severus built a large temple for the gods, which must have been in Lepcis, as none have been discovered in Rome. The di patrii of Severus would have been fresh in his mind, for the family had just returned from a trip to Lepcis–the first time Severus had been home in perhaps 30 years. We are told that while there, Severus visited the Shrine of Liber Pater in the Forum, which contained a statue that was dedicated to him, and which described Rome’s new emperor as conservatori orbis, 'defender of the world'.
Auction Location:
Hotel Baur au Lac, Talstrasse 1, Zurich, 8001, Switzerland
Previewing Details:
in London: February 22 to March 8, 2010
in Zurich: March 23, 2010
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
16.5% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
The coins will be dispatched by registered, insured and priority mail for the account and the risk of the purchaser. The purchaser is responsible for any dues or taxes outside of Switzerland and is advised to acquaint himself with the formalities.
Payment Details:
After the auction invoices will be sent to the successful buyers. Payment instructions are found on the invoice.
Terms and Conditions:
English:
The following conditions are acknowledged by all persons participating in the auction:
The estimates are in Swiss Francs. The opening bids will be about 80% of estimate, unless there are higher offers. The purchase price plus a commission of 16.5% is due and payable in Swiss currency. For lots delivered in Switzerland, VAT of 7.6% will be added to the total (hammer price together with auctioneer's commission and sending charges). Gold coins (AV) are free of VAT. The total price is due after the final bid and payable on delivery. A default interest of 1% per month on the purchase price will be charged for delayed payments. Adjudication ensues after the highest bid has been called three times, and commits the bidder to accept the coins. Written bids have preference over room bids. The buyer cannot claim to act on behalf of a third person. The authenticity of the coins is unconditionally guaranteed, without time limit. All identifications of the items sold in this catalogue are statements of opinion and made in good faith. The coins will be dispatched by registered and insured mail for the account and the risk of the purchaser. The purchaser is responsible for any dues or taxes outside of Switzerland and is advised to acquaint himself with the formalities. The auctioneer cannot be responsible for contraventions. The auction is held in Zurich and any legal questions arising shall be determined in Zurich. A buyer consigning commissions or executing room bids acknowledges the acceptance of the above conditions. The usual conditions applied to auction sales held in Zurich are here reiterated. The above mentioned conditions are written in German, French and English; the only valid text is the German one.
German:
Mit der Teilnahme an der Versteigerung werden folgende Bestimmungen anerkannt:
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French:
En participant à la vente, les conditions suivantes sont considérées comme acceptées:
Les prix indiqués sont des prix estimatifs en francs suisses. La vente débute en principe à 80% du prix d'estimation, pour autant qu'il n'y ait pas d'offres plus élevées. Sur le prix d'adjudication une majoration de 16.5% est prélevée. En cas de livraison en Suisse, le prix total (prix d'adjudication + majoration et frais d'expédition) est augmenté de la TVA de 7,6%. Les monnaies en or (AV) ne sont pas sujettes à la TVA. Le prix total, y compris les taxes, est payable en francs suisses à la réception de la marchandise. Un intérêt de 1% par mois sera facturé pour tout retard. L'adjudication a lieu après le 3e rappel de l'offre la meilleure et oblige l'acheteur à prendre son acquisition. A prix égal, les offres écrites ont la priorité. Chaque participant à la vente s'oblige pour les achats effectués par lui-même. Il ne peut faire valoir avoir agi pour un tiers. Nous garantissons l'authenticité des monnaies sans condition et sans aucune limite de temps. Les indications de notre catalogue ont été faites en toute science et conscience. L'envoi se fait sous pli recommandé, assuré, aux frais et risques du destinataire. Toutes taxes ou impôts prélevés à l'étranger sont à la charge du destinataire. L'acquéreur doit lui-même s'informer des prescriptions douanières et des taxes du pays d'importation. La maison organisatrice de la vente ne peut être tenue pour responsable au cas ou ces prescriptions ne seraient pas respectées. Le domicile juridique entre l'organisatrice et les acheteurs est Zurich, ceci en cas de différences. La remise d'une offre écrite ou verbale signifie en même temps l'acceptation des conditions précitées de vente aux enchères. Les conditions locales de mise aux enchères seront appliquées et celles-ci sont disponibles dans les langues allemande, française, italienne et anglaise. En cas de différences d'interprétation, le texte allemand fait foi.
Italian:
La partecipazione alla vendita all'asta comporta l'accettazione integrale delle seguente condizioni:
I prezzi indicati rappresentano la stima in franchi svizzeri. Se non sono pervenute offerte più elevate, l'inizio di battuta d'asta corrisponde generalmente all' 80% circa dello stesso. Al prezzo di aggiudicazione verrà aggiunto un diritto d'asta del 16.5%. Per le consegne all'acquirente in territorio svizzero sarà aggiunta al prezzo totale (prezzo di aggiudicazione + diritto d'asta e spese di spedizione) il 7,6% d'IVA. Le monete in oro (AV) non sono soggette al pagamento dell' IVA. L'importo complessivo sarà esigibile alla consegna dei lotti e pagabile in franchi svizzeri. In caso di ritardo nel pagamento sarà applicato un interesse dell'1% al mese sul totale dovuto. L'aggiudicazione avviene dopo la terza chiamata della migliore offerta ed obbliga l'offerente ad accettarla. In caso di parità di offerte, avrà la precedenza quella effettuata per corrispondenza. Ogni partecipante alla vendita all'asta è personalmente responsabile degli acquisti effettuati: pertanto egli non può pretendere di avere agito per conto di terzi. Gli oggetti offerti in vendita sono garantiti autentici senza limiti di tempo. L'invio degli oggetti viene di regola effettuato in plico postale raccomandato a spese ed a rischio del destinatario, il quale, se residente all'estero, dovrà assumere a proprio carico ogni eventuale tassa o imposta applicata nel paese di residenza. E' onere dell'acquirente d' informarsi sulle prescrizioni doganali e valutarie del paese d' importazione e la società organizzatrice della vendita all'asta non può essere ritenuta responsabile nel caso in cui esse non vengano rispettate. In caso di controversia è competente il foro di Zurigo. L'inoltro di un'offerta scritta o verbale implica l'accettazione senza riserve delle presenti condizioni d'asta. Saranno inoltre applicabili le consuetudini locali sulle vendite all'asta, il testo delle quali è disponibile nelle lingue tedesca, francese e inglese: in caso di divergenze di interpretazione farà fede il testo in lingua tedesca.