154, Lot: 147. Estimate $1000. Sold for $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Octavian. AR Denarius (17mm, 2.65 g, 12h). Cyrene mint. Open hand / Victory standing right on globe, holding wreath and palm. Crawford 546/6; CRI 413; Sydenham 1282; RSC 500. Fine, toned, punch mark reverse. Very rare.

Ex William C. Boyd Collection (Baldwin's 26 September 2005), lot 131 (incorrectly described), with his ticket (numbered 124); purchased from George Vieweg, February 1891..

L. Pinarius Scarpus had been appointed by Antony to command his four legions in Cyrenaica against Octavian's African army which was under the command of Cornelius Gallus. After learning of Antony's defeat at Actium, Scarpus changed his allegiance to Octavian. This issue was struck shortly after the battle of Actium, the open hand signalizing a gesture of friendship toward Octavian.