Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 412. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SPAIN, Celsa. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Æ “As” (28mm, 15.57 g, 6h). M. Fulvius and C. Otacilius, praefecti pro II viris for the fifth time. Struck 44-36 BC. COL • VIC • IVL • LEP, draped bust of Nike right, wearing taenia; palm over shoulder / PR QVIN above, M F[VL C] OTAC in exergue, colonist, holding plow handle in left hand and goad in extended right, driving yoke of oxen right, plowing pomerium. RPC I 261; Vives 5 and pl. CLX, 5; NAH 892; SNG Copenhagen 535. Good VF, black-green patina with dusty olive overtones.

From the Patrick Villemur Collection. Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 79 (14 October 1996), lot 348.

The Roman Provincial Collection of Ambassador Patrick Villemur

Patrick Villemur, currently serving as Special Advisor to the Director at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, has enjoyed a long career in French diplomatic circles. From 2002 to 2005, he served as the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Prior to that he was the Secretary-General of the 2000 French Presidency of the European Union, the French Ambassador to Venezuela from 1996 to 1999, and French Minister Counselor in Washington from 1993 to 1996. He joined France's Foreign Service department in 1973 and has also held posts in London and Algeria.

A lifelong fascination with history and intercultural affairs, coupled with his multiple postings worldwide, led Patrick to form an important collection of early Roman provincial coins with an emphasis on the Caesarian and Augustan Roman colonies. His collection of North African issues is one of the finest ever assembled.

Patrick is well known to dealers, collectors, and Museum curators around the world. His travel has brought him into contact with many leading scholars and he has often provided his coins to researchers for publication. Numerous pieces are among the best preserved for issue.

We have had the pleasure of knowing Patrick for the thirty years that it took him to build this collection. He has been relentless in his pursuit of many of these pieces. Now the time has come to sell, and his collection will be sold by Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. over the next year. Patrick will continue to pursue another of his collecting areas - Perfume Bottles.