Published Mallus Bronze

CNG 105, Lot: 581. Estimate $1000. Sold for $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Mallus. Otho(?). AD 69. Æ (25mm, 8.51 g, 12h). KAICAP M CЄBACTOC, laureate head right / MAΛΛΩTΩN, facing cult statue of Athena Magarsis, holding spear. RPC Suppl. 4024A/1 = J. Muona, “An intriguing new coin from Mallus, Cilicia,” Scripta varia numismatico Tuukka Talvio (2008), pp. 29-30 (this coin); Heritage 3024, lot 24793 (same dies). VF, green patina. Extremely rare, perhaps one of only two known.

In the initial publication of this interesting coin, Jyrki Muona argued that the portrait is of Otho and shows the influence of the Antioch mint, while the latest RPC supplement leans toward an attribution to Galba, based primarily on the hooked nose (see also RPC I 4024 for another coin tentatively assigned to Galba). The note in the RPC supplement suggesting that the “M” in the obverse legend could be read as “AΛ” of “ΓAΛ(BA),” however, should be discounted. At present the identification is uncertain – while the hooked nose certainly recalls Galba, the youthful portrait is more appropriate for Otho.