Contorniates. Late 4th-5th centuries AD. Æ Contorniate (33mm, 30.45 g). VF.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 310. Estimated: $ 300

Roman Contorniates, Bronze

Sold For $ 650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Contorniates. Late 4th-5th centuries AD. Æ Contorniate (33mm, 30.45 g). Engraved spiral shape (labyrinth?) with five branches emanating from edge / Engraved Chi-Ro within circle. Mondello, “Using and Reusing Tokens: Some Remarks about Christian Graffiti on Contorniates,” in Tokens; Cultures, Connections, Communities (2019), no. 22 and fig. 9 (this example); Alföldi, Kontorniat –. Green-brown surfaces, some smoothing. VF. Unique.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Jacquier 50 (16 September 2022); Jacquier 39 (12 September 2014), lot 812; Jacquier 29 (Summer 2002), lot 629.

Mondello demonstrates that the Christian Chi-Rho and cross types often seen engraved onto contorniates are better understood as general good-luck symbols, as they are frequently found in context with other lucky symbols, like the PE monogram, ivy leaf, and palm frond.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 11:43:00 ET.



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