Calidius x2 with Provenance
- sulla80
- May 30
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 26
Today's coins are 2 denarii from 116-117 BC from the Roman republic. They are beautifully toned and well executed examples with more than 60 years of provenance going back to 1964 and held for all of that time in the personal collection of Robert W. Hoge, a distinguished American numismatist who purchased the coins in his late teens.
These two coins come from the personal collection of Robert W. Hoge, acquired during his teenage years, and highlight two distinct and important sources in the American numismatic market of the 1960s. Mr. Hoge would go on to the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he would get his degree, B.A. in Anthropology & History
The first example (Crawford 284/1a) was acquired from Dan Brown, a noted numismatist and dealer in Denver, Colorado, on May 2, 1964. Mr. Hoge notes that this piece was accompanied by an old Italian ticket, possibly from the well-known Santamaria firm in Rome.
The second example (Crawford 284/1b) was acquired from Frederick S. Knobloch in New York (possibly from Fixed Price List #24, Winter '63/64). Knobloch listed the provenance as being from an 'Eastern Museum' - a description often associated with duplicates de-accessioned from the Yale University collection by T.V. Buttrey, though not explicitly confirmed for this specific coin.
Marcus Calidius, Q. Metellus and Cn. Fulvius, 117-116 BC. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.82 g, 6 h), Rome mint.
Obv: ROMA Helmeted head of Roma to right; below chin, XVI monogram (mark of value).
Rev. M•CALID / (MET) C(N FVL) Victory, holding wreath in her right hand and reins in her left, driving galloping biga to right.
Ref: Babelon (Calidia) 1, (Caecilia) 35 and (Fulvia) 1. Crawford 284/1a. RBW 1113. Sydenham 539.
Notes: Old cabinet toning with some irridescence. Light traces of over-striking(?) on Roma's chin, otherwise, nearly extremely fine. From the Robert Hoge collection, acquired from Dan Brown 2 May 1964. Correspondence with Mr. Hoge notes this coin is accompanied by an "old Italian ticket" (possibly from the firm Santamaria).
Who is Robert Hoge?
Robert W. Hoge is a distinguished American numismatist whose career as a curator, scholar, writer, and collector has profoundly impacted the field of coin collecting and research. Trained in anthropology and history, Hoge brought a broad cultural perspective to numismatics. He began his museum career in the late 1970s as director of the Sanford Museum in Iowa, before embarking on a lifelong journey “exploring” coins and history.
In 1981, Hoge became the first professional curator of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) Money Museum in Colorado Springs, where for two decades he developed exhibits, expanded the collection, and elevated the museum’s scholarly profile. During his tenure at the ANA (1981–2001) he also managed the ANA’s Authentication Bureau and contributed as a columnist and editor for The Numismatist, the ANA’s journal. Hoge additionally taught for 20 years at the ANA’s Summer Seminars, mentoring young numismatists and future experts. (See: David Vagi Story in Coins Weekly).
In 2001 Hoge moved to New York to join the American Numismatic Society (ANS) as Curator of North American Coins and Currency, a position he held until 2013. Hoge contributed extensively to numismatic literature during this period: he authored scholarly articles and book chapters, and he wrote a popular column, “Current Cabinet Activities,” in the ANS Magazine, chronicling the Society’s collection and research news. Upon retiring in 2013, he was honored with the title Curator Emeritus of the ANS, reflecting the high esteem in which he is held.
Selections from the RWH Collection have been sold through prominent auctions, each piece accompanied by Hoge’s meticulous notes and provenance tags for the new owners. The scope of Hoge’s collection, much like his career, has been impressively broad yet discerning.
Today, Robert W. Hoge remains an active figure in numismatics as an emeritus curator, consultant, and author, ever curious and generous with his knowledge. Hoge’s career is one of dedicated service to the study of coins, bridging the academic, museum, and collector communities in a way few have equaled.
Marcus Calidius, Q. Metellus and Cn. Fulvius, 117-116 BC. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.79 g, 3 h), Rome mint.
Obv: ROMA Helmeted head of Roma to right; below chin, XVI monogram (mark of value).
Rev: C(N F)OVL / M•C(AL)•Q•(MET) Victory driving fast biga to right, holding reins in her right hand and wreath in her left.
Ref: Babelon (Fulvia) 1. Crawford 284/1b. RBW-. Sydenham 539a. Grueber 476
Note: Correspondence with Mr. Hoge notes that while it might be the Yale coin (via Buttrey), he clarifies that Knobloch only listed it as coming from an "Eastern Museum" and did not explicitly cite Yale for this specific piece (unlike others he purchased).
Notes: Toned with some iridescence and rare. Good very fine. From the Robert Hoge collection, acquired from Frederick S. Knobloch in March 1964, and reputedly from an undisclosed "Eastern Museum Coll."). Knobloch was a collector who formed his collection between 1930 and 1980 and also privately sold coins via mail lists. There is a coin of this type in the Fixed Priced List #24 from Winter 63/64:
Knobloch mentions that the coins in this sale "mostly come from the cabinet of General Pedro Messias Cardoso of Port Alegre Brazil". Without any weight or picture it is not possible to verify that this is my coin.
Knobloch sold his collection through several Stack’s auctions starting in 1970 and continuing through 1980. A coin of this type is found there too - but that couldn't have been this coin (Ch. Very Fine) and would not still have been owned by Knobloch at time of sale as my coin was acquired in 1964.
it is possible that these coins were a recent donation - this one by E. Ingraham (1887-1972) in 1963 near the time of sale in March 1964 when T.V. Buttrey served as curator of the Yale numismatic collection (1962 to 1964):
Who is Dan Brown?
Dan Brown Rare Coins was a prominent coin dealership based in Denver, Colorado, active from the late 1940s through the mid-1970s. Dan Brown opened his shop in downtown Denver (at 1532 Broadway, across from the U.S. Mint) and built it into a well-known numismatic storefront. The shop catered to collectors of U.S. and world coins, and Brown advertised extensively in hobby publications. Dan Brown earned a reputation as an ethical and highly respected dealer. He began collecting in 1927 and joined the ANA in 1942.
This period was the height of the post-war coin collecting boom, and Brown’s dealership became a local institution for coin enthusiasts. By 1974 Brown retired and later moved to Arizona, closing a quarter-century chapter of Denver coin retailing.
Notably, Brown deliberately never sought office in the ANA itself, believing the hobby’s main association “should be run by collectors, not dealers,” a stance that underscored his integrity and focus on serving collectors. He did, however, accept honors such as an appointment as a U.S. Assay Commissioner, and he remained active in numismatic circles – even serving on the PNG board and helping organize major coin shows.
Fellow numismatists remember Brown’s character fondly. Robert W. Hoge (former ANA and ANS curator) has credited Dan Brown as a personal mentor from his youth, recalling how Brown welcomed him into the shop on Broadway, eagerly sharing knowledge and even letting the young collector take boxes of coins home on approval.
On one occasion, when a cash-strapped teenage Hoge tried to sell some treasured coins, Brown refused to let him part with them – instead loaning him $100 on trust, saying, “pay me back some day… it’s a loan not to worry about”. Such stories illustrate the sincere, honest and friendly reputation Brown had within the numismatic community. For another story on Dan Brown's business ethics see: A Numismatic Gentleman.
References
Hoge retirement from American Numismatic Society by Michele Orzano
Published: Oct 30, 2013, CoinWorld
U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2012, January 30). Treasury Secretary appoints members to Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee [Press release]. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/ccac-member-appointments-2012
Dan Brown and the 1964-D Peace Dollar, The E-Sylum: Volume 25, Number 50, December 18, 2022, Article 9
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