Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3044 3-4 January 2016
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Ancients
Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AV aureus (20mm, 7.99 gm, 12h). Pergamum, 19-18 BC. AVGVSTVS, bare head of Augustus right / No legend, lactating sphinx seated right. Cf. RIC 512 (obverse misdescribed, but see plate 9). BMCRE 682 (plate 17, 3). Calicó 156a (R3). Cohen 333. Very rare! Struck from a rather degraded obverse die, but with a terrific reverse sphinx. NGC Choice AU 3/5 - 4/5.This handsome aureus is usually attributed on stylistic grounds to the important mint city of Pergamum in Asia Minor, circa 19-18 BC, during Augustus' tour of the east. The striking anepigraphic reverse type depicts the sphinx, a mythological Egyptian creature, sometimes winged (as seen here), with a human head and leonine body. This image was initially used by Augustus as his personal signet, but was later replaced with the head of Alexander the Great because of the sphinx's association with Egypt, and hence Cleopatra.
Estimate: 10000-14000 USD
Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AV aureus (20mm, 7.99 gm, 12h). Pergamum, 19-18 BC. AVGVSTVS, bare head of Augustus right / No legend, lactating sphinx seated right. Cf. RIC 512 (obverse misdescribed, but see plate 9). BMCRE 682 (plate 17, 3). Calicó 156a (R3). Cohen 333. Very rare! Struck from a rather degraded obverse die, but with a terrific reverse sphinx. NGC Choice AU 3/5 - 4/5.This handsome aureus is usually attributed on stylistic grounds to the important mint city of Pergamum in Asia Minor, circa 19-18 BC, during Augustus' tour of the east. The striking anepigraphic reverse type depicts the sphinx, a mythological Egyptian creature, sometimes winged (as seen here), with a human head and leonine body. This image was initially used by Augustus as his personal signet, but was later replaced with the head of Alexander the Great because of the sphinx's association with Egypt, and hence Cleopatra.
Estimate: 10000-14000 USD