Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 243. Estimate CHF7500.
Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.
Sold For CHF12000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. |
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Maximinus II. As Caesar, AD 305-309. Argenteus (Silver, 3.16 g 12), Alexandria, c. 305-307. MAXIMINVS NOB CAES Laureate head of Maximinus to right
Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG / B /ALE Turreted figure of Alexandria standing left, holding long sceptre in her left hand and head of Serapis in her right. RIC -. See NAC 52, 2009, 597 (
same dies). Of great rarity,
only the third example known). Good extremely fine.
From the Tetrarchy Collection, New York, ex Freeman & Sear FPL 13 (Winter 2008), 72.
Until the appearance of this coin in 2008, there was no silver of Maximinus II Caesar known from Alexandria; in fact, there was no silver for any of the rulers struck there after the mid 290s. Why Alexandria produced no silver is unknown but, quite possibly, the fact that Egypt was always rather lacking in silver resources might be the answer. Yet why was this coin made? Could it be a souvenir of the visit of a high ranking official, perhaps one of emperors himself?
