Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1045. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $2600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SYRIA, Roman Province. Antioch. Autonomous. 64/3-50/49 BC. Æ 27mm (16.39 g, 12h). Dated Pompeian Era 13 (54/3 BC). Laureate head of Zeus right / ANTIOCEW[N] THS MHTROPOLEW[S], Zeus Nikephoros seated left; IG (date) in exergue. Cf. RPC I 4213; cf. Butcher 9.1a (large module); SNG Copenhagen -; cf. BMC 32 (year 14). Good VF, dark brown patina with patches of red, green hues around the devices. Unique? ($750)

This interesting autonomous bronze of Antioch is double the weight of the standard large module bronzes issued during the Pompeian Era. Also, although it is apparent that the reverse die used was specifically made for this larger coin, the size of the obverse die suggests it was designed for the standard large denomination. Butcher notes that years 13 and 14 (54/3-53/2 BC) are the commonest, which may be a reflection of Crassus' adventures in the area at that time. As this coin is dated year 13, it is possible that Crassus' activities gave rise to some occasion that necessitated an extraordinary issue of oversized bronzes.