CNG 85, Lot: 700. Estimate $1000. Sold for $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARABIA, Bostra. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ (30mm, 17.81 g, 12h). Legio III Cyrenaica issue. Laureate head right / LEG III CYR, bust of Zeus-Ammon right. D. Hollard, “Le monnayage de la Legio III Cyrenaica frappé à Bostra sous Antonin le Pieux,” RN 2004, 1 (D1/R1); Kindler p. 93, a and pl. V, 19; Spijkerman -; SNG ANS -; Hendin -; CNG 69, 1224 (same obv. die). Good VF, black patina with traces of earthen deposits, some adjustment marks on obverse which do not affect the portrait. Very rare.

The Legio III Cyrenaica was formed in North Africa under Lepidus at the time of the Roman Civil War and spent most of the first century AD in Upper Egypt. Other units were transferred to Arabia for Trajan’s Nabataean campaign in AD 106. Shortly thereafter, the legion was stationed at Bostra to patrol the Arabian frontier and defend area mines and farms. Several rare coin types are known with legends and types referring to the legion alone, but no mention of the city.