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Justinian I. 527-565. Pair of Gilt Electrotype Clichés of Obverse and Reverse of Constantinople mint AV 36 Solidi Medal. Original issued to commemorate the victory of Belisarius over the Kingdom of the Vandals, AD 534. D N IVSTINI ANVS P P AVG, helmeted, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, holding spear in right hand; ornate round shield slung over shoulder / SALVS ET CLORIA ROMANORVM, Justinian, in military attire and holding spear, right on caparisoned horse; horse being preceded by Victory, alighting right, head looking backward, and holding trophy; star in upper middle field; CONOB. Dimensions for obverse: 85mm; 14.43 g; dimensions for reverse: 84mm; 9.29 g. See BM Inventory B.13086 (for another example). Traces of fabric adhered to the back of each side, otherwise as made. Made from the original sulfur cast in the British Museum of the now lost original from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
According to the entry in Stevenson’s 1889 A Dictionary of Roman Coins, Republican and Imperial (q.v SALUS ET GLORIA ROMANORUM), the original medallion was “[d]istinguished not only by its unique character but also by its unusual volume and weight (for, according to Eckhel), it equals five ounces and nearly three drachms, and Mionnet gives its diameter as 38 lines (French measure), this splendid coin was found in the year 1751, near Caesarea ad Argaeum (Mazaca), formerly the capital of Cappadocia, amongst some rubbish in the foundations of an old building, cast out from the depth of twenty feet underground.”
The original was part of the collection of the Cabinet des Médailles of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France until it was stolen in 1831 and never recovered. Prior to the theft, a sulfur cast of the medal was made and deposited in the British Museum; all examples derive from this cast.
The final winners of all Triton XXV lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 11-12 January 2022. Triton XXV – Session Three – Roman Republican & Imperatorial Coinage through Byzantine Coinage will be held Wednesday morning, 12 January 2022 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.
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