Interesting Contemporary Imitation of an Augustus Denarius

411, Lot: 381. Estimate $300. Sold for $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (20mm, 6.83 g, 3h). Contemporary imitation. Uncertain mint, perhaps in the Balkans. Struck circa 19-18 BC, or later. Head right, wearing oak wreath / S P Q R above and below shield inscribed CEV (sic); laurel branches flanking. For prototype: cf. RIC I 36a; cf. ACIP 4037; cf. RSC 51. VF, toned.

From the Norman Frank Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 60 (22 May 2002), lot 1483.

An interesting contemporary imitation of an Augustus denarius struck on a thick flan, which we thought to be an Indian imitation when it was offered in our Auction 60. Today, based on published examples like those found in the collection of Andrei Sergeev (Barbarian Coins on the Territory Between the Balkans and Central Asia, 2012), it is more likely from a mint in the Balkans.