A. Plautius. 55 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.85 g, 1h). Rome mint. VF.

Electronic Auction 526
Lot: 342. Estimated: $ 200

Roman Republican, Silver

Sold For $ 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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A. Plautius. 55 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.85 g, 1h). Rome mint. Turreted head of Cybele right / Bacchius Judaeus (Aristobulus II, High Priest and King of Judaea) kneeling right, holding reins and offering up olive branch; to left, camel standing right. Crawford 431/1; Sydenham 932; Plautia 13; RBW 1540. Lightly toned, edge scrape, reverse slightly off center. VF.

The enigmatic "Bacchius the Jew" depicted in supplication on the reverse has been plausibly identified by Michael Harlan as the Judaean high priest Aristobulus II, who was deposed by Pompey the Great after his siege of Jerusalem in 63 BC. The moneyer, Aulus Plautius, is known to have been a partisan of Pompey’s, and his choice of coin types suggests he served under Pompey in the campaign.

Closing Date and Time: 2 November 2022 at 11:53:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 20% buyer’s fee.