Coins and Historical Medals

Leo III and Constantine V (720-741), Solidus, Naples (or other uncertain Italian mint), crowned and draped bust of Leo facing, holding globus cruciger and acacia, d leon pp around, large Λ to right, rev. crowned and draped bust of Constantine facing, holding globus cruciger and acacia, d const around, large K to right, 3.82g (Ricotti-Prina pl. 15, 55, this coin; DOC Naples 60 [different dies of very similar style]; Sear 1537c). Good very fine, extremely rare and with an excellent pedigree £3,000-£4,000

Published in Ricotti-Prina’s La monetazione aurea delle zecche minore bizantine dal VI al IX secolo, Rome, 1972; Leu Auction 38m 13 May 1986, lot 416; Dr C.R. Dreesmann Collection, Part II, Spink Auction 13 July 2000, lot 584; A. C. Dimitriadis Collection, Heritage, Long Beach Signature Sale 3035, 3 Septmeber 2014, lot 29521