Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 481 2 Dec 2020
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Civil War. AD 68-69. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.15 g, 6h). Group IIIa ('Augustus' issue). Uncertain Spanish mint. Bare head of Augustus right / AVGVSTVS, bull walking right, head facing. Unlisted in the standard references. Porous, some shallow scratches, a few deposits. Fine.
This interesting coin raises a number of questions as to its attribution. The popular bull reverse type appears at Lugdunum and Pergamum, but never with a bare-headed, anepigraphic obverse. The obverse is reminiscent of Spanish issues of Augustus from Tarracco. Furthermore, the bull appears to be facing, a detail not present on other issues. With a weight about half a gram lighter than one would expect from an Augustan issue, we suggest this example is a part of the many Augustan-type denarii struck in Spain during the Civil War of AD 68-69. The possibility must also be considered, however, that it is a hitherto-unknown Spanish mint issues of the late first century BC, with the weight reduced from silver leeching in the ground.
This interesting coin raises a number of questions as to its attribution. The popular bull reverse type appears at Lugdunum and Pergamum, but never with a bare-headed, anepigraphic obverse. The obverse is reminiscent of Spanish issues of Augustus from Tarracco. Furthermore, the bull appears to be facing, a detail not present on other issues. With a weight about half a gram lighter than one would expect from an Augustan issue, we suggest this example is a part of the many Augustan-type denarii struck in Spain during the Civil War of AD 68-69. The possibility must also be considered, however, that it is a hitherto-unknown Spanish mint issues of the late first century BC, with the weight reduced from silver leeching in the ground.