Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1056. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Aegeae. Augustus, with Julius Caesar. 27 BC-14 AD. Æ 28mm (12.35 gm, 12h). Dated CY 99(?) (50/1 AD). Bare head of Augustus right / AIGEAIWN [THC I]ERAC K[AI AV]TONOMOV, bare head of Julius Caesar right; in left field, QK(?) above PAR monogram. Cf. RPC I 4036; cf. SNG Levante 1691-1692; SNG France -. Near VF, dark green patina, minor roughness. Apparently unpublished with this date and monogram. ($500)

While the early imperial coinage of this city is not well-known, owing to the great rarity of its examples, this issue in particular, proves to be the most enigmatic. Because of the inclusion of civic years on the coins, our specimen is known to be part of a type which was struck during the reigns of both Gaius and Claudius. As to whom the portraits represent, there has been much scholarly debate. Ruprecht Ziegler (Städtisches Prestige und kaiserliche Politik, p. 17), suggests the portraits are Alexander III of Macedon and Julius Caesar respectively, as the founders of the city. The obverse of our coin, however, shows an undiademed head with features strikingly similar to portraits of Augustus.