Triton XVI, Lot: 1209. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Contorniates. Late 4th century AD. Æ (39mm, 23.68 g, 6h). In the name of Trajan. TRAIANVS • AVG • COS • IIII • P • P •, laureate head right; engraved letter B to right / Dionysus standing facing, head left, holding grape bunch and thyrsus, panther at feet; maenad advancing left, playing tibiae, and satyr advancing right, head left, holding pedum and wineskin, on either side below; maenads advancing left, shaking thyrsus, and lifting veil, on either side above. For coin type: Alföldi, Kontorniat 300 and pl. 124, 9 (same dies); for engraved B: cf. Alföldi, Kontorniat, pl. 100, 2 (Nero/Hercules). VF, attractive, smooth red-brown patina, engraved B is silvered.

Ex Tony Hardy Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 67, 22 September 2004), lot 1810.