Contorniates. Late 4th-5th centuries AD. Æ Contorniate (38mm, 24.74 g, 6h). In the name of Vespasian. VF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 295. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Contorniates, Bronze

Sold For $ 1 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Contorniates. Late 4th-5th centuries AD. Æ Contorniate (38mm, 24.74 g, 6h). In the name of Vespasian. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, laureate bust right, slight drapery / Grain distribution scene: figure seated slightly left behind modius, scooping grain(?); to left, figure standing right holding empty vessel towards modius; to right, figure advancing right with filled sack on his back. Alföldi, Kontorniat 239 (dies 64/115). Rough brown and green patina, smoothed and tooled. VF. Extremely rare.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Numismtica Ars Classica 106 (10 May 2018), lot 1722.

In his description of this fascinating scene, Alföldi describes the figure on the left pouring grain into the modius. In this cataloger’s interpretation, that figure is arriving at the distribution with an empty vessel, about to be filled by the official seated behind the modius. To the right, another individual, having already received his grain, walks off with a full sack on his back. Alföldi notes one example of this reverse paired with a Nero obverse, and four of the present type, paired with Vespasian. Not merely rare on contorniates, this particular distribution scene is unparalleled in numismatics at large.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 11:38:00 ET.



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