1. Artemide Aste
  2. Artemide LVII (30 Aprile - 1 Maggio 2022)
  3. The Roman Empire
Gallienus Aureus' Impressive Pedigree
Lot 548:
Gallienus (253-268). AV Aureus, 253-254 AD. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG. Laureate and cuirassed bust right. Rev. VIRTVS AVGG. Soldier standing left, holding spear in left hand and resting right on shield. RIC V 99; C. 1286 (Fr.100); Mazzini 1286 (this coin); Biaggi 1490 (this coin); Calicó 3653 (this coin); Göbl pl. 7, 38p (this coin). AV. 3.33 g. 18.50 mm. RR. Very rare and superb, with a prestigious pedigree. A charming portrait, of fine style. Mark on obverse and a graffito on
reverse, otherwise.
Ex NAC sale 101, 2017, 551 and sale 49, 2008, 366. Ex Biaggi de Blasys; From the Mazzini collection.
Leo Biaggi de Blasys (1906-1979) was a Swiss sugar magnate and sportsman whose fascination with ancient Rome led to the creation of one of the world’s greatest collections of Roman gold coins. Born in Genoa to a Swiss-Italian diplomat and a French mother, he became active in the Red Cross after 1943 and, with his father, he repeatedly helped Jews in Italy escape persecution in the later years of World War II. He was also alleged to have knowingly aided in the escape of high-ranking Nazis, a notion dismissed by his friends and relations. In 1961, he received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his services. His collection focused on Roman gold from the Republic to late Empire, ultimately comprising over 2,000 specimens. The gold collection was purchased en bloc by Bank Leu (Zurich) in 1978, and slowly sold off to collectors over the next few decades. More than 500 ex-Biaggi coins were sold by Numismatica Ars Classica in their Auction 49 in 2008. The Biaggi pedigree remains highly prized among collectors of Roman gold.
(Triton XXIII, 2020, 696 note).
Start price € 7500
Current price € 8500
Bids: 3
No more available for sale.