Sale: Nomos 2, Lot: 168. Estimate CHF4500.  Closing Date: Monday, 17 May 2010.  Sold For CHF7750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. Denarius (Silver, 3.66 g 2), Rome, L. Aquillius Florus, circa 19 BC. L.AQVILLIVS.FLORVS. III.VIR Draped bust of Virtus to right, wearing helmet with a long crest and a feather on the side. Rev. AVGVSTVS CAESAR Augustus, driving biga of elephants to left, holding laurel branch over the backs of the elephants. BMC 36. BMCRR 4545. Cohen 354. RIC 301. Rare. Struck on a slightly oblong flan but attractive and fresh. Extremely fine.

The obverse of this coin is taken from the issues of the moneyer’s ancestor, Mn.Aquillius who struck coins in BC 71 (Crawford 401). The reverse type, also used by the moneyer’s two colleagues M. Durmius and P. Petronius Turpilianus, probably refers to the triumph over the Armenians (for the Armenian campaign see below, lot 170).