Sale: CNG 67, Lot: 1513. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 September 2004.  Sold For $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ANTONINUS PIUS. 138-161 AD. Æ Sestertius (23.48 gm). Struck 140-144 AD. Laureate head right / REX ARMENIIS DATVS, Pius standing left, holding roll and placing hand on head of Armenian king, who raises hand to adjust tiara. RIC III 619; BMCRE 1273; Cohen 686. VF, light brown patina, minor spots of porosity, hairline flan crack. Rare. ($1500)

From the Michael Weller Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica M (20 March 2002), lot 2723; Münzen und Medaillen 61 (7-8 October 1982), lot 439.

The Romans and the Persians constantly jockeyed for position in the important border region of Armenia, appointing pliant client kings whenever either was in ascendancy. Unfortunately, the paucity of contemporary records in the long, generally peaceful reign of Antoninus does not allow us to determine which Armenian puppet king is being honored here.