Gold of the Boer War

The armed conflict between Britain and the two Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State in South Africa, the second Boer War, began on 11 October 1899 and ended on 31 May 1902. The Boer War (Gold War) was the first war of the bloody 20th century. It pitted the might of the British Empire against a small group of Dutch farmers. Boer is the Dutch word for farmer.

The British mobilized an army of more than 500,000 men from all corners of the empire to fight the Dutch farmers. This vast army used state of the art military technology. One such weapon was the newly invented Maxim machine gun.

Despite overwhelming numbers and the latest killing technology, the Boers fought heroically against the British invaders. The Boers were never able to field more that 60,000 men but they fought tenaciously and displayed amazing courage and resourcefulness to defend their homeland.

The Battle of Spion Kop was fought on the hilltop of Spioenkop along the Tugela River in South Africa from 23–24 January 1900.

Six companies of the 2nd Battalion The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment marching in column, and at ease, towards Spion Kop.

20,000 British faced 8,000 Boers. It was a British defeat. The British suffered 243 fatalities; many buried in the trenches where they fell. About 1,250 British were either wounded or captured. Mohandas Gandhi was a stretcher-bearer at the battle, in the Indian Ambulance Corps. Boers at Spion Kop, 1900.

The British trench in "the murderous acre" on Spion Kop

In the closing stages of the Anglo-Boer War, Paul Kruger, president of the South African Republic of Transvaal and the face of the resistance, fled from encroaching British troops in 1900. In the 1880s Kruger had issued orders that if the British threatened the capital city of Pretoria the entire reserves of the national bank - gold bullion and coins - should be put on wagons and hidden in the African plains. Following his evacuation, Kruger lived out the last four years of his life in exile before dying in Switzerland. Some of his gold was auctioned. Most Boer leadership were killed and the location of the Krugerrand motherload has never been revealed.

The 1902 gold Veldpond also known as the "Pilgrim's Rest Coin" is a coin struck by the Boers on the run from the overwhelming British forces on a makeshift mint set up in the veld (long grass) in the remote region of Pilgrims Rest in the north eastern Transvaal. For many numismatists the Veld Pond is the holy grail of South African coins. Soft hand-cut dies and an improvised flypress were used to strike about 530 coins in gold. Only a single set of hand carved dies were used - thus the simple design and the poor quality of the coin. The dies were kept under lock and key so the official mintage figures are deemed to be accurate. Genuine Veld Ponds today sell for well over US $20,000

Octavian and the Battle of Actium

In 43 BCE, Octavian formed the Second Triumvirate with Marc Antony and Lepidus. They defeated Brutus and Cassius and divided the empire with Octavian holding most of the West and Antony the East. In 33 BC, the Second Triumvirate ended, leaving Antony without legal authority. Octavian then began a campaign against him, declaring war against Cleopatra.

The Battle of Actium was a naval battle fought between Octavian's fleet, led by Marcus Agrippa, and the combined fleets of Mark Antony and Cleopatra on 2 September 31 BC in the Ionian Sea. In early 31 BC, Antony and Cleopatra were temporarily stationed in Greece. Mark Antony possessed 500 ships and 70,000 infantry and made his camp at Actium. He was soon trapped on both land and sea. Antony's fleet sailed out through the straits of Actium in a desperate attempt to break free of Marcus Agrippa's naval blockade. While fleets were about equal, Antony was eventually routed by Octavian's smaller, more maneuverable ships. On September 2, Antony and Cleopatra managed to escape with a small force, leaving the rest of his army to surrender to Octavian. The end came in Alexandria on 1 August 30 BC. Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

Octavian's victory enabled him to consolidate power. He adopted the title of Princeps (first citizen), and in 27 BC was awarded the title of Augustus (revered) by the senate. The reign of Augustus gave Rome a golden era known as the 'Pax Romana' during which he served for 41 years. It was Augustus’ coinage reform in 23 BCE that saw the aureus come into consistent use.

The lifetime aureus shown was minted while Octavian retained his name, around 32-31 BC and the time of the Battle of Actium. It features the inscription "CAESAR DIVI F" on the reverse, which translates to "Caesar, son of a god".

The friezes of Persepolis

Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC) and is a World Heritage Site. It is situated 60km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Iran. The friezes from Persepolis are of the highest artistic merit.

After invading Achaemenid Persia in 330 BC, Alexander the Great sent his army to Persepolis by the Royal Road. He stormed the "Persian Gates", a pass through the modern-day Zagros Mountains. Alexander's troops looted Persepolis.

Domitian and Domitia

Domitian was Roman emperor from 81 to 96.

The son of Vespasian and the younger brother of Titus was the last member of the Flavian dynasty. Emperor Domitian and Empress Domitia Longina formed one of the most tumultuous power couples in ancient Rome. Their marriage, political alliance, and Domitian's reign culminated in palace intrigue, betrayal, and death. Aureus features Emperor Domitian on the obverse and his wife, Domitia Longina, on the reverse. It was minted in Rome around 82–83 AD.

Domitia, the daughter of general Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, was forced to divorce her first husband, Lucius Aelius Lamia, to marry Domitian in AD 70. In AD 83, Domitian banished Domitia over an alleged affair with the actor Paris. Domitian soon brought Domitia back to Rome and restored her status as Empress. Domitian grew increasingly paranoid and began executing members of his inner circle. Domitia was tipped off that her own name was on his execution list. To save herself, she is widely believed to have played an active role in the palace conspiracy that resulted in his murder.

Domitian was assassinated on September 18, 96 AD, at the age of 44. He was stabbed to death in his palace by a group of court officials, servants, and the Praetorian prefects. The relieved senate rejoiced at his death and immediately subjected him to a damnatio memoriae. He was succeeded the same day by his advisor Nerva. Domitia retired and died around 130 AD at age 77. Domitia. Augusta, AD 82-96. Denarius (Silver, 3.57 g 6), Rome, 82-83. Estimate CHF 10,000. Sold For CHF 19,500 in 2010

Due to her controversial life and later role in the plot against Domitian, Domitia coins became exceptionally rare. Today, surviving examples in good condition are extremely highly valued with most in museums.

Defaced Roman coins

During the Roman Empire, coins were often defaced, mostly between the 1st and the 3rd centuries AD. It was prevalent in the imperial provinces, where many cities issued bronze coins for local circulation.

Julius Caesar, as Dictator (49-44 BCE). AR denarius. NGC Choice XF 5/5 – 2/5, graffiti.

Ancient coins were often deliberately defaced as an expression of contempt for the subject depicted or name inscribed. Coins mistreated in this way have an appeal for some collectors. Gaius Julius Caesar was beloved by his troops and Rome’s common people, but he was hated by many of the elite. Lifetime portrait coins of Julius Caesar have been in high demand for almost 2 centuries. A deep scratch is an acceptable defect.

When the reclusive and paranoid Tiberius died at the age of 78, most Romans greeted the accession of his great-nephew Gaius joyfully. That didn't last long. Two years after Caligula's death, the Senate voted that all bronze coins bearing his image be melted down, but the chronic shortage of small change in the Roman economy meant this wasn't enforced. Some coins of Caligula survived, but rarely with his name or image intact. Gaius (Caligula). 37-41 CE. Æ Sestertius. Rome mint. Struck 37-38 CE.

Nero. 54-68 CE. Æ Sestertius. Rome mint. Struck circa 66 CE. Nero is infamous for his debauchery and was deeply unpopular with the nobility and political class, which led to his downfall.

Domitian and Domitia were a Roman imperial couple. Married in 70 AD, they served as Emperor and Empress of the Flavian dynasty from 81 AD until Domitian’s assassination in 96 AD. Domitian was a cruel and ruthless autocrat, recorded as one of Rome's worst emperors.

Roman Chariot and horses found in Croatia

In 2019 archaeologists discovered the remains of a chariot from ancient Rome along with two horses. Dating to the 3rd century AD, the find, the first of its kind in Croatia, is an extremely high status burial for a wealthy Roman family. In 2021 near Pompeii, archaeologists uncovered a nearly intact Roman ceremonial chariot dating to the 1st century CE. Preserved in the volcanic ash, the chariot is believed to have been used in parades, processions, or elite marriages.

The find is from an ancient burial mound known as a tumuli. Only those of the highest status were buried in this expensive manner.

Conquered under Augustus, Pannonia and Moesia Superior were strategic frontier provinces of the Roman Empire.

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Archaeologists discovered golden curse tablets in Roman tombs. These contain inscriptions with magical symbols calling upon both gods and demons to unleash ill-health, punishment, and death upon enemies.

The curse tablets were found in Roman tombs at Viminacium, the ancient capital of the former Roman province of Moesia Superior in Serbia. The territory was under Roman (and later Byzantine) rule for about 600 years, from the 1st century BC until the 6th century. Viminacium occupies a total of about 450 hectares (1,100 acres)

“..so long as someone, whether slave or free, whether man or woman, keeps silent or knows anything about it, they may be accursed in blood, and eyes and every limb and even have all intestines quite eaten away if they have stolen the ring or been privy (to the theft).” Other curses are even more personal ... “May your penis burn away when you make love.”

In Viminacium archaeologists found Christians and pagans buried together, suggesting they lived together in relative harmony and tolerance.

Priam's Treasure

Priam's Treasure is a spectacular collection of gold and other artifacts discovered by archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann at Hissarlik in modern Turkey. Schliemann illegally smuggled Priam's Treasure out of Anatolia. The majority of the stolen artifacts are in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.

Schliemann claimed the site to be that of ancient Troy, and assigned the artifacts to the Homeric king Priam. He was wrong, the treasure is a thousand years older than Homer's King Priam of Troy, who died about 1200 B.C. The collection, consisting of 259 items, has been at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts since 1945. Russia claims their looted art is compensation for the destruction of Russian cities and looting of Russian museums by Nazi Germany in World War II.

Sophia Schliemann wearing the "Jewels of Helen" stolen by her husband in Hisarlik.

The “Mask of Agamemnon” is one of the most famous gold artifacts from the Bronze Age. The Mask was discovered in 1876 by Schliemann during excavations at Mycenae. The gold leaf funeral mask was found over the face of a body in a burial shaft in the Mycenaean Citadel.