437, Lot: 345. Estimate $100. Sold for $120. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Domitian. AD 81-96. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 13.35 g, 12h). Contemporary imitation(?). Dated “New Holy Year” 7 (AD 87/8). Laureate bust right, wearing aegis / Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, with wings spread; palm frond to right. Prieur 144 (this coin); McAlee 397; RPC II 1977. VF, lightly toned, some light marks.

From the Michel Prieur Collection, purchased from Yves Cellard, Credit de la Bourse.

In his collection notes, Prieur called this coin a “faux d'epoque” (contemporary forgery), though he did not make mention of this in his text, where this coin is catalogued and photographed as no. 144. In his book, however, he does note that “the issues of year 7 show an unprecedented degeneration of style.” Most likely, after further study, Prieur came to the conclusion that this coin is a contemporary imitation. It should be noted that there are copper deposits on the reverse, and while it could be plated, most likely the alloy is impure.