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40
Extremely Rare RIC 2
156.
Denarius, 3.26g (5h). Rome. Obv: [IMP] OTHO
CAESAR AV[G TR P] Head bare right. Rx:
CERE[S] - AVG Ceres standing left holding two
wheat ears and cornucopia. Paris 1, pl. XX (same
dies) = Cohen 1 (Paris, 50 Fr.). BMC p. 364 (citing
Cohen). RIC 2 (R4). VF
6,000
From the Jyrki Muona Collection
.
Comment from consignor: “This is Otho’s rarest
denarius type and one of the rarest first-century
Roman denarii. Only two museums, Paris and ANS,
hold examples. A further specimen was found in
archaeological context in Denmark in the 1990s. In
addition to these, four other specimens are known.
The coin offered here has the best portrait and is
clearly the most attractive of the seven known. I
obtained it from Glenn Woods at the 2002 NYINC”
.
157.
AE 23, 6.75g (12h). Antioch, Year 117 = 69 AD.
Obv: IMP M O[THO - CAE AVG] (clockwise
from upper right) Head laureate right. Rx: EΠI /
MOYKIA / NOY ANT / IOXEΩ / N ET ZIP in five
lines within circle in laurel wreath. RPC 4317 (2
spec.). McAlee 318 (V. Rare, illustrating this coin).
Granular surface. VF
$1,100
From the Jyrki Muona Collection; ex CNG E110, 16
March 2005, lot 147, giving provenance “From the
Garth R. Drewry Collection”
.
The Mucianus mentioned in the reverse legend
was governor of Syria from 66 to 69 AD, and then
in summer 69 helped persuade Vespasian to rebel
against Vitellius and led the expedition that cap-
tured Rome for Vespasian in December 69. McAlee
observed that the obverse die of our coin was also
used to strike the type S C in laurel wreath, McAlee
p. 151, 323(c )/1
.
158.
AE 28, 11.75g (11h). Antioch, Year 117 = 69 AD.
Obv: [IMP M OT] - HO - CAE A]VG] (counter-
clockwise from upper left) Head laureate right. Rx:
EΠI / MOYKIA / NOY AN / TIOXEΩ / N ET ZIP
in five lines within circle in laurel wreath. RPC
4320 (17 spec.). McAlee 319 (V. Rare; from the
same dies as McAlee’s illustrated specimen). Bold
Fine/VF
$2,500
From the Jyrki Muona Collection
.
A larger denomination with the same reverse leg-
end as the last lot, naming Vespasian’s supporter
Mucianus as governor of Syria
.
159.
AE 29.5, 11.44g (12h). Alexandria. Obv: [AY]TOK
MAPK OΘΩN[OΣ KAIΣ ΣEB] Head of Otho lau-
reate right. Rx: Draped bust of Isis right, crowned
with ears of wheat, date LA before neck. RPC 5365
(only two spec. in the 11 core collections). Dattari-
Savio pl. 12, 332. Cologne 254-5. Bold Fine
$1,500
From the Jyrki Muona Collection
.
Cumae Hoard of 1868
160.
Vespasian.
69-79 AD. Aureus, 7.43g (5h).
Lugdunum, 72 AD. Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG
P M TR P IIII P P COS IIII Head laureate right. Rx:
PACI AVGVSTI Winged Nemesis walking right,
pulling out drapery from breast and holding cadu-
ceus, preceded by serpent. RIC 1180 (C). BM 403.
Paris 307. Cohen 284 (40 Fr.). Calicó 656. Giard,
Lyon, 56. Mint State
$15,000
Ex Leu 72, 12 May 1998, lot 422. Ex Sotheby
(Zurich), 9 June 1983, Virgil Brand Collection, lot