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IBERIA, Punic Iberia. Circa 237-209 BC. Æ Half Unit (20mm, 5.03 g, 12h). Male head right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Palm tree. MHC 113; ACIP 581; SNG BM Spain 94-6; SNG Morcom –. Red-brown patina, verdigris, pitting, weakly struck on reverse. Near VF.
From the John Morcom Collection.
The foundation for John Morcom’s collection was laid by his grandfather, Col. R.K. Morcom (1877-1961), who was an enthusiastic collector especially during the 1920s and 1930s. Col. Morcom gave his collection to his grandsons John and Christopher Morcom in 1944. Then, in around 1961, they divided the collection, John taking the Western Greek coins, and Christopher those from the Greek mainland, and the islands in the Mediterranean, others being sold, and both continued to build their collections. CNG had the great pleasure of handling Christopher’s collection, which he consigned for auction in 2007.
There are many eminent numismatists who played a part in encouraging John’s interest in ancient coins including Stanley (later Sir Edward) Robinson, Graham Pollard (Fitzwilliam), Colin Kraay (Ashmolean), and many at the British Museum, particularly Martin Price and Kenneth Jenkins.
In John’s case, he not only acquired a great many additional coins from numerous sources over the past 63 years but also wrote, with substantial assistance, particularly from Martin Price and Ute Wartenberg when they were at the British Museum, the catalogue of his collection that was published in 1995 as volume 10 in the UK series of Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, The John Morcom Collection of Western Greek Bronze Coins. Whilst pursuing a successful career as a solicitor, John has always remained an active member of the numismatic community. He served on several occasions on the Council of the Royal Numismatic Society, and for eight years as its Treasurer.; he continues to work as one of the co-authors on the third volume, devoted to Sicily, of the third edition of Historia Numorum.
Except for his latest acquisitions, John placed his coins for many years on loan to the British Museum. In 2012, he donated 190 of his bronze coins to the Museum, and he has recently completed a second donation of a further 530 coins, significantly expanding the Museum’s collection of western Greek bronzes.
We are honored that John Morcom has now consigned the remaining coins in his collection for sale by CNG in this and upcoming present auctions.
Closing Date and Time: 9 October 2024 at 10:00:00 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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