Description
Roman Empire. Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – AD 14. Cistophorus ca. 25-20 BC, Ephesos. Silver 11.98 g.; 26.5 mm.
Obverse: Bare head of Augustus to right. Obverse caption: IMP • CAE-SAR //
Reverse: Capricorn to right, head to left, bearing cornucopiae on its back; all within laurel wreath. Reverse caption: AVGVSTVS
RIC: 480. RPC: 2213.
Remarkable example, well-centered, covered with an exceptional cabinet patina! Very rare in this state of preservation. Almost uncirculated AU 55-58
Provenance Details
Ex A. H. Drijfhout van Hoof collection (Jacques Schulman 217, Amsterdam 1949, no. 281) and
Ex UBS 78, 2008, 1255.
Comment
Cistophorus struck in a mint in Asia Minor, possibly Pergamon (Mysia) or Ephesus (Ionia) and attributed to Ephesus by Sutherland (Sutherland group VIα (Ephesus)). See RIC I² Augustus 477, 480, and 493, as well as RPC I, 2213 for references to these types with the bare head of Augustus and the capricorn. Only the type RPC I, 2213 is referenced for the positioning of the legend on the obverse.
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