Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich

Auction 117  –  1 October 2019

Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich, Auction 117

Greek, Roman and Gupta Empire gold coins

Tu, 01.10.2019, from 4:45 PM CEST
The auction is closed.

Description

Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD. Aureus, Lugdunum 13-14 AD, AV 7.80 g. CAESAR AVGVSTVS - DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Laureate head r. Rev. AVG F TR POT – XV Tiberius standing r. in triumphal quadriga of horses (of which two facing l. and two r.), holding eagle-tipped sceptre and laurel branch; in exergue, TI CAESAR. C 299. Bahrfeldt 238. BMC 508. RIC 223. CBN 1687. Biaggi 177 (this coin). Calicó 295 (this coin). Szaivert A4 (this coin illustrated).
Very rare. Struck on a very broad flan and complete, about extremely fine

Ex Glendining 24 November 1925, 11; Glendining 16-21 November 1950, Platt Hall part II, 971; Christie’s New York 12 June, 1993, McLendon, 90 and Heritage 3032, 2014, Andre Constantine Dimitriadis, 23540 sales. From the Biaggi and a Retired Banker collections.
Nearing the end of his life, the great Augustus must have felt betrayed by the gods, as all six of his potential heirs had expired or proved incapable of succeeding him. Though his only remaining grandson, Agrippa Postumus, theoretically could have been recalled from exile, it did not happen, and the great Augustus was succeeded by his dour stepson Tiberius. This aureus, struck in the last months of Augustus' life, seems a clear indication that Rome's first emperor had conceded - however reluctantly - to Tiberius' succession. The obverse bears the portrait of Augustus, just as one would expect, but the reverse is dedicated entirely to Tiberius, who is shown in a four-horse chariot celebrating the 15th renewal of his tribunician power. Never terribly imaginative with his precious metal coinage, Tiberius retained this quadriga scene as his aureus and denarius reverse type for the first three years of his reign. When he eventually replaced the quadriga type, he did so with another late Augustan type depicting his mother Livia in the guise of Pax.

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Bidding

Price realized 19'000 CHF
Starting price 16'000 CHF
Estimate 20'000 CHF
The auction is closed.
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