Lot 1965

Description

Augustus, (27 B.C. - A.D. 14), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issued 16 B.C. by C. Cassius Celer, (17.59 grams), obv. [OB / CIVIS / SERVATOS] in three lines, with oak wreath between laurel branches, rev. C. C[ASS]IVS C F CELER III VIR A A A F F] around large SC, (cf.S.502, RIC 374, C.407, CBN 394, BMC 165 and p.xxxi Volume 1 & p.396). Countermarked SA in rectangular block on obverse, this good fine, host coin poor, and very rare.

The countermark 'SA' is an error for 'AS' where the issue was devalued to an As by Claudius. Obviously the countermark as applied should have been 'AS' and also be placed on a dupondius and not a sestertius. An interesting and unusual variant, apparently unpublished.