Rare Double Portrait Issue

255, Lot: 250. Estimate $100. Sold for $475. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CYPRUS, Uncertain. Caracalla & Geta. AD 209-211. Æ (27mm, 11.35 g, 6h). M • ANTΩNЄIN OC AVΓOVCTOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right / AVTO • KAIC • Π • CЄ ΠTIMIOC ΓЄTAC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Geta right. Parks issue 28; cf. Hill, “Greek Coins Acquired by the British Museum in 1923,” NC (1924), 15. VF, dark green, almost black, patina. Rare.

The attribution to Cyprus is based solely on the evidence of provenance. The three examples in the collection of the British Museum were purchased from a dealer who claimed they came from Cyprus. A hoard found on Cyprus (on loan to the British Museum) contained three more examples.