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Auction: 23007 - Ancient Coins Including the 'Kyrios' Collection of Greek Coins and featuring the 'Ostorius' Collection of Roman Gold
Lot: 171

Seleukid Kingdom of Syria, Cleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII (125-121 BC) AR Tetradrachm, Ake-Ptolemais, jugate busts of Cleopatra Thea, diademed, veiled and wearing a stephane right, and Antiochos, diademed right rev. BASILEISSIS KLEOPATRAS THEAS/KAI BASILEOS ANTIOXOY Zeus Nikephoros enthroned left, holding sceptre in left hand, monogram to left, 16.62g (SC 2271.1) well-struck with old cabinet tone, very fine

PROVENANCE

Abbott Collection, Glendining, 10 October 1951, lot 325, 'very fine' - £19

William J. Macdonnell Collection, 24 October 1910 (per ticket)

Purchased from Lincoln Coins, 26 February 1907 (same)


William John Macdonnell was an Australian bank manager and amateur astronomer, who served as President of the New South Wales chapter of the British Astronomical Association, and was elected fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1873.


Macdonnell had a notable career as an astronomer. He collaborated with H.C. Russell, Director of Sydney Observatory, participating the 1874 Transit of Venus observations in Eden, and the later 1882 exhibiton at Port Macquarie, the town in which he worked as a bank manager, and founded an observatory that same year.


Having fallen on hard times during the economic depression of the 1890s, Macdonnell resigned from the bank, sold his astronomical equipment and started again in Sydney. His perseverence clearly paid off, and by 1907 he had acquired a new refractor telescope, and was able to dedicate time and resources to his other great love, Greek numismatics.


Precious little remains of information surrounding Macdonnell's numismatic output, but we glean a sense of a knowledgable and gregarious collector, who would share his expertise with his fellow hobbyists.


An obituary penned by the editors of the Spink Numismatic Circular in January 1911, reads:


'We regret to hear from our Corrsepondent in Australia the death of the above named.

He further writes: - "The deceased gentleman was an ardent and generous collector of Greek Coins; Greek numismatics being a very favourite study of his. His loss will be greatly felt, as his knowledge was always at the service was always at the service of those who wished to consult him on the subject".'


An obituary in the journal of the British Astronomical Society, by E. H. Beattie, likewise commemorates "the father of the science" of astronomy in Australia; a man of "active and untiring zeal" [...] "strong personality", and who provided "kindly assistance and encouragement to younger Members". A small mention at the end of the same piece refers to Mr Macdonnell's "large and valuable collection of Greek and other ancient coins", which was "well known throughout the state" of New South Wales.



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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£550