Victory Over the Parthians

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 713. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $4250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Cistophorus (11.97 g, 12h). Pergamum mint. Struck 19-18 BC. IMP • IX • TR • PO V, bare head right / MART VLTO across field, Temple of Mars Ultor: circular, domed, tetrastyle temple set on five-tiered base; a signum within. RIC I 507; Sutherland Group VIIg, - (O68/R- [unlisted rev. die]); RSC 202; RPC I 2220; BMCRE 704 = BMCRR East 311; BN 989-91. Good VF, lightly toned. Bold strike on both sides.

Augustus dedicated the first of two temples to Mars as Mars Ultor, Mars the Avenger, in 20 BC, which housed the military signa recovered from the Parthians. This reverse type celebrates these historically significant events.