Lot 1931

Description

Uncertain Eastern - Arabian, Provincial issue, Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-180), silver tridrachm, (8.12 grams), obv. laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius to right, draped and cuirassed, around [AYT]OKP ANT**WNEIN[O CEB], rev. eagle facing head to right on globe, around Y**PATO*C **G*, (S.-, Syd. - (Caesarea), SNG Von Aulock 6429, SNG Von Post 533 [this coin]). Fine and rare.

Ex. Von Post Collection, Sotheby's London, 9-10th October 1995 (lot 248 part). The attribution to the city of Caesarea in Cappadocia was made by Von Aulock and later by Von Post. W.E. Metcalf in his book The Silver Coinage of Cappadocia Vespasian - Commodus (NN&M 166) 1996, does not place this issue to that city and leaves it out. Sydenham, also either rejected that attribution or more likely did not know of this type. The issue is most probably from the Syrian - Jordan area but only from hoard evidence can a mint of issue be finally be attributed.