Fine Style Sabina

Triton XXI, Lot: 93. Estimate $1000. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Sabina. Augusta, AD 128-136/7. BI Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.27 g, 12h). Dated RY 15 (AD 130/131). CABINA CЄBACTH, draped bust right of Sabina, wearing stephane / CABЄINA CЄBACTH, Sabina, as Demeter, seated left, holding two grain ears with her extended right hand and a long scepter with her left; L IE (date) in upper left field. Köln 1263-4; Dattari (Savio) 2061 (this coin); K&G 33.2; RPC III 5773/18 (this coin, incorrectly recorded as 5772/11; also this coin is clearly RY 15 per the note in RPC); Emmett 1334.15; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 93 (this coin). Near EF, toned. Fine style and great metal for the issue.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 360 (27 April 1999), lot 693; Giovanni Dattari Collection, no. 2061.

The reverse of this scarce issue depicts Sabina as Demeter on the reverse (or perhaps Isis-Demeter if she is wearing an Isis crown instead of a stephane). It is also interesting to note the discrepancy in the spelling of her name between the obverse and reverse (CABINA versus CABЄINA), which clearly indicates a lack of consistency amongst the engravers.