Extremely Rare Antoninianus with MARCIA OTACILIA

CNG 97, Lot: 709. Estimate $2000. Sold for $3750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Otacilia Severa. Augusta, AD 244-249. AR Antoninianus (23mm, 4.36 g, 7h). Antioch mint. Struck under Philip I, AD 244. MARCIA OTACIL IA SEVERA AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent / PIETAS AVG N, Pietas standing left, holding globe and scepter; to left, child standing right, extending hands toward Pietas. RIC IV 134 (Philip I) var. (obv. legend); RSC 42a var. (same); Bland Study –; Tulln Hoard 950 var. (same); cf. Gemini I, lot 423 (for obv.). Good VF, toned, minor porosity, some deposits on reverse. Extremely rare with her full name on an antoninianus, one of only three published.

The obverse legend on this issue, which contains the full name of Otacilia, was from a very short issue at the beginning of Philip I’s coinage at Antioch. Soon after the issue began, her name was abbreviated to OTACIL on the dies. This initial issue is known from only two other coins: one, in a private collection (cf. http://ettuantiquities.com/Philip_1/Otacilia-3.htm#RSC42AV), which has the same reverse type as the present coin, and the Gemini I coin, which had the same obverse die as the first coin, but a Concordia type reverse. The Gemini piece is the only one to previously appear at auction, and realized $3000.