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In a world where time is measured in moments, and history in symbols, coins remain silent witnesses of past civilizations, carrying with them stories of power, culture, and transformation. The current auction brings together a rare and refined selection of pieces, each with a distinct identity, a testimony to the passage of centuries. From the Hellenistic world comes to us the Tetradrachm of Lysimachus, a masterpiece of Greek coin art. The idealized portrait of Alexander the Great, with the horns of Ammon, betrays the royal ambitions of one of his successors and takes us back to a time of conquests and dreams of empire. From the splendor of the Byzantine Empire, we are greeted by the Solidus of Justinian the Great, struck in shiny gold, in an era of expansion, reform, and reconstruction. Issued under the reign of one of the most important Byzantine emperors, this solidus reflects not only the prestige of a golden age but also the artistry of imperial coinage from Constantinople. A leap to the Europe of the 16th-17th centuries, the Thalers of Sigismund Báthory and Gabriel Bethlen introduce us to a troubled yet sophisticated Transylvania, in which political power was reflected in precious metal. The coins impress with their size, weight, and execution, being a prominent presence in specialized collections. In the field of modern Romanian coinage, two exceptional pieces attract the attention of connoisseurs. The 20 Lei 1870, one of the most sought-after Romanian gold coins, represents the beginnings of the kingdom and the dream of a modern Romania under the reign of Carol I. And alongside it, the imposing 100 Lei 1906, issued after forty years of reign, symbolically crowns a spectacular historical journey, reflecting the artistic elegance and monetary ambition of that era. This catalog is more than just a list of lots – it is an invitation to travel through time. Each coin offered for auction is a bridge between the past and the present, between historical value and the passion of the modern collector. This year, our auction takes on a special dimension, marked by the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Queen Maria's birth, one of the brightest and most beloved figures in Romanian history. As a tribute, we have reserved a special section of the catalog for pieces of rare symbolic depth — testimonies of a life lived with dignity, sacrifice, and love for the country. In this section, we find a true bibliophile gem: the book "Ode to Roumania," a limited luxury edition, with exceptional graphic presentation, created by Queen Maria and dedicated to the country she served with passion. This rare work is more than an object – it is a visual and literary poem, a reverence to the Romanian spirit, seen through the eyes of a queen who became a national symbol. The section includes a wide selection of period photographs, marking all the important and symbolic moments in the Queen's life, from her childhood to the end of her life. Another object carries a profound emotional charge: the Queen Maria Cross, a unique commemorative piece, offered to the royal family at the solemn moment of the queen's burial in 1938. Executed with a sobriety befitting the moment and at the same time with a special nobility, the cross bears not only the pain of a parting but also the gratitude of an entire nation.
