Two Rare Issues of Sulla

CNG 97, Lot: 136. Estimate $1000. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.51 g, 12h). New Style coinage. Roman occupation under Sulla. Struck 86-84 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; monograms flanking, A on amphora; all within wreath. Thompson 1279 = Hunterian 175 (same obv. die). Near VF, toned.

After his conquest of Athens, Sulla struck silver tetradrachms and drachms there to finance his further campaigns. He used the well-established New Style design, but replaced the city’s ethnic and magistrate names with a pair of monograms. The meaning of these monograms is uncertain. Although the number of known dies indicates a large issue, these coins are quite scarce today.