Lot 1921

Description

Phoenicia, Berytus, Augustus, (27 B.C. - A.D.14), AE 18, (7.15 grams), issued 6-4 B.C. by legate P. Quinctilius Varus, obv. bare head to right, around [IM]b CAE[SAR] AVGVSTV, rev. two legionary eagles between two standards with medallions, around [P QVINC]TLL LVSVARVS, (S.-, AUB 35-6, RPC 4535, BMC 55-56). Very fine and rare.

This and the next few lots are from a small collection of coins from Berytus (Beirut) issued up to the reign of Trajan. P. Quinctilius Varus later achieved fame (or infamy) as the inept commander who led three legions to destruction in the Teutoberger Wald during the German campaign of A.D. 9, which led Augustus to exclaim, 'Varus, where are my legions'.