Extremely Rare Portrait of the Proconsul Volusius Saturninus

Sale: CNG 78, Lot: 1544. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 May 2008.  Sold For $5100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BYZACIUM, Achulla. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ As (11.03 g, 12h). L. Volusius Saturninus, proconsul. Struck 7-6 BC. Head of Astarte right, wearing stephane / Bare head of Saturninus right. RPC 801; Amandry, Notes VI, 8 II C, 3 (D2/R1; this coin); MAA 61; SNG Copenhagen -. Near VF, red-brown patina with areas of green, minor overall roughness on reverse. Extremely rare.

From the Patrick Villemur Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica B (25 February 1992), lot 1718.

L. Volusius Saturninus was suffect consul in 12 BC. He was the first member of his senatorial family to amass great wealth, and his service to Rome brought them great prestige. Both his son, also named L. Volusius Saturninus, and grandson, Quintus Volusius Saturninus, became consuls, in AD 3 and 56, respectively. His niece, Lollia Paulina, was the third wife of the emperor Gaius (Caligula).