Allectus. Romano-British Emperor, AD 293-296. Antoninianus (21mm, 4.92 g, 7h). ‘C’ mint. Choice EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 893. Estimated: $ 750

Roman Imperial, Billon, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 3 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Allectus. Romano-British Emperor, AD 293-296. Antoninianus (21mm, 4.92 g, 7h). ‘C’ mint. IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / PA X AVG, Pax, draped, standing left, holding olive branch in right hand and vertical scepter in left; S|P//C. RIC V.5 394 (forthcoming); RIC V 86; Burnett, Coinage 153; A. H. Baldwin, “A find of coins of Carausius and Allectus from Colchester” in NC 1930, pp. 173–95, 137 (this coin). Lightly toned trace silvering and dark brown patina. Choice EF. Good metal and outstanding detail for issue.

From the Dr. Malcolm Lyne Collection. Ex Colchester Hoard, before 1927 (IRBCH 910).

An outstanding antoninianus of Allectus from the 1927 Colchester hoard of Carausius and Allectus. The hoard consisted of 298 coins, over 90% of them belonging to the two rulers of the Romano-British Empire. According to A. H. F. Baldwin who acquired and then published the hoard in 1930, “the hoard as a whole consisted of very neatly executed pieces with bust in high relief with well-formed lettering, well centered on carefully rounded blanks” (Baldwin, 174). He emphasized that “this is especially noticeable with the coins of Allectus, many of which are beautiful examples of portraiture with artistically decorated drapery and cuirass” (ibid). This fitting description applies in its entirety to this outstanding example. In addition to noting the trace silvering on the coins, Baldwin concluded that “the coins ... of Allectus are as sharp as when struck, and must have been buried within a short time of their issue : they form perhaps, the finest series of coins of this emperor ever discovered” (ibid). In 1927 this statement was accurate and nigh a century later it remains true. The coinage of Allectus is usually found both ill-preserved and poorly-excecuted. But within the Colchester hoard the zenith of the coinage of Allectus is perhaps contained. Finally, within the hoard, there was only one coin, cataloged by Baldwin following P. H. Webb’s 1906 style, of this issue––this very coin. This sale affords a once in a century opportunity to acquire one of, if not the finest, specimen of this issue.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Three – Lot 648–983 will be held Wednesday morning, 10 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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