Constantius I. As Caesar, AD 293-305. AV Aureus (18mm, 5.55 g, 5ah). Carthago (Carthage) mint. Struck AD 297-298. NGC photo cert. graded MS★, 5/5, 4/5.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 844. Estimated: $ 10 000

Roman Imperial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 20 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Constantius I. As Caesar, AD 293-305. AV Aureus (18mm, 5.55 g, 5ah). Carthago (Carthage) mint. Struck AD 297-298. CONSTAN TIVS CAES, laureate head right / FELIX AD V ENT AVGG NN, Africa, wearing long drapery, wearing elephant-skin headdress, standing facing, head left, holding signum in right hand and elephant tusk in left; at feet to left, lion with captured bull; PK. RIC VI 2a (same dies as illustration); Depeyrot 1/2; Calicó 4825; Franz Trau Collection (Gilhofer & Ranschburg), lot 3536 (same dies). Lustrous. NGC photo certificate 6556307-002, graded MS★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Extremely rare, such that the type is illustrated in Calicó by only a line drawing.

Although Carthage had been destroyed following the Third Punic War (149-146 BC), by the first century BC, a new city had been built upon its ruins. In later centuries, Carthage became the third most populous city of the Empire and a major exporter of grain to Rome. During the Tetrarchy, a confederation of Moorish tribes threatened to overrun Roman Africa, drawing a quick response from Maximianus, who moved a substantial army to Carthage and campaigned for over a year to defeat them. The presence of so many soldiers required the opening of a mint to pay them, and the first coins of the Carthage mint are dated to AD 296. This extremely rare aureus, struck in the name of the western Caesar Constantius I Chlorus, depicts the personified province of Africa on the reverse, wearing a distinctive elephant-skin headdress. The lion subduing a bull at her feet surely represents Rome defeating the Moors.

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session Three – Lots 674-990 will be held Wednesday morning, 11 January 2023 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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