Two Extremely Rare Tetradrachms

Triton XVII, Lot: 758. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Caracalla. AD 198-217. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 11.49 g, 7h). Aradus mint. Struck circa AD 215-217. • AYT • KAI • M • A • ANTΩNINOC C, laureate head of Caracalla right, supported by eagle standing right / • ΔHMA • ЄΞ • VΠATOC • T Δ, radiate and draped bust of deity (Aglibol or Malakbel?) right; large crescent below. Prieur 1229 var. (rev. legend, crescent at deity’s shoulder rather than below); Bellinger –. Good VF, light porosity, hairline flan crack, minor doubling on reverse. An unpublished variant of an extremely rare type.

Prieur knew of only two examples of his 1229, one of which – his plate coin– brought 7,500 DEM (over $3,200) at auction in 2001 (Lanz 102, 28 May 2001, lot 767). No additional examples appear to have been sold at auction since.