430, Lot: 331. Estimate $150. Sold for $425. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

The Triumvirs. Octavian. 28 BC. AR Denarius (18.7mm, 3.05 g, 12h). Contemporary(?) imitation of an uncertain Eastern mint issue. Uncertain eastern mint(?). Struck 28 BC or later. Bare head right; small capricorn below / AEGVPTO above, CAPTA below, crocodile standing right on ground line. For prototype, cf. CRI 432; cf. RIC I 545; cf. RSC 4. Near VF, toned, obverse flan flaws, heavily polished.

Ex Agora Auctions 53 (5 April 2016), lot 163 (catalogued as a fourrée).

In their description for this coin, Agora Auctions stated that: “Although the core is not visible on this example, it is significantly underweight, it must be a fourrée. It clearly circulated as authentic due to its wear. Another plated example with the same dies was recently sold by CNG.”

We (CNG) don’t think it is significantly underweight at 3.05 grams, and we can’t find anything in our records from the same dies. Our conclusion is that it is a contemporary imitation, based on the garbled obverse legend, and unusual style.