Very Rare Italian Solidus
Ex Garrett Collection

CNG 100, Lot: 316. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Theophilus. 829-842. AV Solidus (23mm, 4.03 g, 6h). Naples(?) mint. Struck 829-circa 831. •*ΘЄOFI-LOS ЬΛSILЄ, crowned bust facing, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger with central pellet in right hand, cruciform scepter in left / CVRIЄ ЬOHΘH τO SO ∂OVLO *Є, patriarchal cross set on three steps. DOC 31c.2 var. (no pellet at beginning of obv. legend); SB 1684. Near VF, toned, weakness in centers. Very rare.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex John W. Garrett Collection (Part II, Numismatic Fine Arts & Leu, 16 October 1984), lot 539 (purchased from Wayte Raymond, 23 October 1923).

We are following tradition in identifying the obverse as that with the portrait, but we might think of the legend as running from one side to the other, beginning on the side with the patriarchal cross, so that the entirety reads: “May the Lord aid your servant King Theophilus.”