Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 5 27 Oct 2019
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SYRIA, Uncertain. 'Sistripia'. Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Assarion (Bronze, 20 mm, 8.19 g, 12 h). ΘEOY YIOY KAICAPOC Bare head of Augustus to right. Rev. CICTPI/ΠHNΩN - THC IEPAC Nike advancing right, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond over her left shoulder. RPC I 4087. Very rare. A very attractive and unusually complete example of this enigmatic issue. Minor smoothing, otherwise, good very fine.
The localization of the enigmatic city 'Sistripia' is seriously hampered by the fact that it is only known by its very rare coinage: no literary source mentions a place name that is even remotely similar. However, style and fabric of the coins as well as the epithet 'THC IEPAC' ('holy') points towards a mint in northwestern Syria, or perhaps Phoenicia. The obverse legend ΘEOY YIOY KAICAPOC, on the other hand, translates as 'son of the deified Caesar': it is appropriate for both Augustus and Tiberius, but more common for the former, with whom the portrait also bears more resemblance.
The localization of the enigmatic city 'Sistripia' is seriously hampered by the fact that it is only known by its very rare coinage: no literary source mentions a place name that is even remotely similar. However, style and fabric of the coins as well as the epithet 'THC IEPAC' ('holy') points towards a mint in northwestern Syria, or perhaps Phoenicia. The obverse legend ΘEOY YIOY KAICAPOC, on the other hand, translates as 'son of the deified Caesar': it is appropriate for both Augustus and Tiberius, but more common for the former, with whom the portrait also bears more resemblance.