Séguin - Numismata Antiqua - 1666

THE SECRET CODE OF COINS: POWER, MYTH, AND BAROQUE COLLECTING
Emblematic work of French antiquarian culture in the 17th century, Pierre Séguin’s Selecta Numismata Antiqua represents one of the first systematic attempts to organize and interpret the symbolic language of ancient coins. It is not merely a catalog, but a true erudite machine, in which political power, imperial memory, and classical aesthetics fuse in a refined and scholarly editorial project. Through copperplate engravings and erudite commentary, Séguin builds a visual and intellectual atlas of Romanity and the ancient world, restoring to the coin its status as a historical document and object of collecting fascination. The volume sits at the heart of the Baroque antiquarian tradition, where private collecting becomes a tool of knowledge and social standing, anticipating modern scientific numismatics.
MARKET VALUE
Complete copies bound in contemporary parchment as the present are generally priced in a range between 1,200 and 2,500 euros, with higher figures for copies that are particularly fresh, well-pressed, and free of defects. The presence of sharp engravings and the original binding contribute significantly to desirability on the antiquarian market.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION
Volume illustrated with numerous copperplate engravings in the text depicting ancient coins. Contemporary full parchment binding. Genuine copy, well preserved overall, with normal aging patina. In old books with centuries-long histories, a few imperfections may be present, not always noted in the description.
Pp. [8], 226, [6].

FULL TITLE AND AUTHOR
Selecta Numismata Antiqua.
Paris, Sébastien Mabre-Cramoisy, 1666 (colophon 1665).
Séguin, Pierre.

CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
Pierre Séguin, a central figure of French antiquarianism, was among the first to value coinage as a primary historical source, going beyond mere collecting to reach an interpretive approach. The work is set in a period of great interest in classical antiquities in France during the Grand Siècle, supported also by ecclesiastical and court circles. The coins, reproduced with great precision, become instruments for reading imperial power, political propaganda, and sacred and profane iconographies. In this sense, the volume also takes on a symbolic dimension: every medal is a trace of a lost order, a fragment of eternity that the collector attempts to reassemble.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Pierre Séguin (1588–1675) was a French ecclesiastic and antiquarian, dean of the church of Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois in Paris. A passionate collector, he gathered an important cabinet of medals and antiquities, which became a reference point for scholars of the time. His activity lies within the context of the nascent erudition of antiquarian studies, contributing to the development of numismatic studies in France.

PRINTING HISTORY AND CIRCULATION
Printed in Paris by Sébastien Mabre-Cramoisy, royal printer, the work benefits from a prestigious and technically advanced editorial context. The 1666 date on the title page with a colophon dated 1665 reflects common editorial practices of the era. The volume enjoyed significant circulation among European scholarly circles, entering private and institutional libraries, and contributing to the diffusion of the antiquarian taste.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Brunet, III, col. 465
Cohen-Ricci, Guide de l’amateur de livres à gravures du XVIIe siècle, p. 922
ICCU/OPAC SBN: IT\