Contorniates. Late 4th-5th centuries AD. Cast Æ Contorniate (38mm, 31.39 g, 12h). Alexander III ‘the Great’ of Macedon. A 17th century cast from a lost original. Good VF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 279. Estimated: $ 500

Roman Contorniates, Bronze

Sold For $ 2 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Contorniates. Late 4th-5th centuries AD. Cast Æ Contorniate (38mm, 31.39 g, 12h). Alexander III ‘the Great’ of Macedon. A 17th century cast from a lost original. ALEXA NDER, draped bust of Alexander right, wearing lion’s skin; palm frond “engraved” to right / Aerial view of chariot race in the Circus Maximus: spina with obelisk of Augustus flanked by metae, tholos on left(?), and statues of horseman and boar left; two quadrigae left above; two quadrigae right below; to left, standing figure; to right, rider or equestrian statue left. Alföldi, Kontorniat 31 (dies 8/144). Brown patina. Good VF. Rare. This is not an original coin, but a Renaissance copy.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Leu Numismatik Web Auction 8 (29 June 2019), lot 1945 (hammer 3200 CHF).

All examples of these dies are casts from a now lost original and can easily be identified by the identical “engraved” palm frond on each example. Specimens exist from the d’Este Collection with their countermark (Alföldi 31.1) as well as the Apostolo Zeno (1668-1750) Collection (Alföldi 31.7), indicating they were likely made in the 17th century.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 11:32:40 ET.



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