CNG 105, Lot: 597. Estimate $1000. Sold for $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JUDAEA, Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem). Caracalla. AD 198-217. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.58 g, 12h). Laureate, draped, and curiassed bust right / Eagle standing facing on thyrsus, head and tail left, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; between legs, a theatrical mask to left; grape bunch or crude wine jar in exergue. Cf. Meshorer, Aelia 94; Sofaer –; cf. Prieur 1620 (citing 2). VF, light porosity and scratches. Very rare.

From the same obverse die as Meshorer 94a and Prieur 1620. The symbol in the exergue is either a wine jar as on the examples cited above (albeit a very crude one), or, perhaps more likely, a grape bunch. If the latter is correct, this variety is unrecorded in the standard references.