Coinage Struck in Spain 25-20 BC

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 685. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $325. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Quinarius (1.84 g, 10h). Emerita mint. P. Carisius, legate. Struck circa 25-23 BC. AVGVST, bare head right / P CARIS-I LEG, Victory, draped, standing right, with both hands placing wreath on a trophy, consisting of helmet and cuirass; against base of trophy, a dagger to left and a curved sword with hilt closed by a bar to right. RIC I 1a; RSC 386; BMCRE 293-4 = BMCRR Spain 121-2; BN 1065-70. Near EF, toned.

Mint operations in Spain were clearly defined under the legate P. Carisius in 25-20 BC. The colony of Emerita was founded in 25 BC and the legatus Augusti, P. Carisius, received the charge of maintaining the military operations in western Spain. Scholars have accepted the contention that Carisius established a mint there to finance his activities.