Lot 4704

Description

Macedon, uncertain probably Thessalonika, Augustus, with Divus Julius Caesar, (27 B.C. - A.D. 14), AE 20, (5.31 g), obv. bare head of Divus Julius right **Q*EO[C], rev. bare head of Augustus right, around CEB[ACTOY] **Q*E, (S.-, Sear Imperators-, RPC 5421, BMC Macedonia 61 [Thessalonica], SNG Evelipedes 1327). Dark green patina, surface abrasions on both portraits, otherwise very fine and very rare.

Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection and purchased from Alexandria Coins in 2005.
While bearing a similarity to issues of Thessalonika, such an attribution has been rejected by Touratsoglou (Die Munzstatte von Thessaloniki der romischen Kaiserzeit, p.43, n.69) on the grounds of difference in style and of die axis. In the brief discussion of the type the authors of RPC note the similarity to issues of Apamea, before ending (p. 717): 'It is not clear if **Q*E refers to **Q*EOS and if so, why omit the last two letters, or is part of another word such as an ethnic (hence the original attribution to Thessalonica).'