436, Lot: 391. Estimate $500. Sold for $1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BYZACIUM, Achulla. Augustus, with Caius and Lucius Caesars. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ 31mm (16.95 g, 11h). L. Volusius Saturninus, proconsul. Struck 7/6 BC. Bare head of Augustus left; to left, bare head of Caius Caesar right; to right, bare head of Lucius Caesar to left / Bare head of L. Volusius Saturninus right; countermark, monogram within square. M. Amandry, “Notes de numismatique Africaine. VI. 8 Achulla,” Revue Numismatique 1992, pp. 46-53, II B, 5; MAA 60; RPC I 800. Near Fine, dark brown patina. Very rare, with one of the few non-Imperial portraits encountered on Roman Provincial coinage.

From a Bay Area collection, purchased from David Vagi, 31 July 2005.

L. Volusius Saturninus was suffect consul in 12 BC. He was the first member of his senatorial family to amass great wealth, and his service to Rome brought great prestige. His niece, Lollia Paulina, was the third wife of the emperor Gaius (Caligula). His portrait, usually in conjunction with those of Augustus and his relations, appears on coins issued in the North African province of Byzacium, where he served as proconsul circa 7-6 BC. Such proconsular portraits on coinage were exceedingly rare and disappeared from provincial coinage within a few years.