Sale: CNG 63, Lot: 1035. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2003.  Sold For $3700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea. Domitian, with Domitia. AR Didrachm (7.08 gm). Struck in Rome for Caesarea, circa 93/4 AD. AVT KAI DOMITIANOC• CEBACTOC GEPM, laureate head of Domitian right / DOMITIA CEBACTH, draped and diademed bust of Domitia right, hair braided and tied in queue at neck. RPC II 1665; Sydenham, Caesarea 129; Metcalf, Caesarea 27. Good VF, choice old cabinet toning. Very rare. ($3000)

These dies are not found among the five recorded examples of this coin, and both stylistically and condition-wise the present specimen appears to be the finest known. It is somewhat surprising that it does not appear in the census published in RPC, since the patina is original and old, obviously from an early collection. Metrological analysis of the alloys have proven that some of the Caesarean silver was in fact struck at the mint of Rome for distribution in the east, and this didrachm is clearly a product of the imperial mint. The quality of portraiture of this piece is exceptional even by imperial standards.