RPC I, 4150

 

Image of specimen #14

 

Coin type
Volume I
Number 4150
Province Syria
Region Syria
City Antioch
Reign Augustus
Person (obv.) Augustus
Dating 5 BC
Obverse inscription ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΥΠ ΙΒ
Obverse design bare head of Augustus, right
Reverse inscription ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟΥ, ΦΕ (in exergue)
Reverse design Zeus seated, left, with Nike and sceptre, to left, monograms ΠΑΓΡ and ΠΑ
Metal silver
Average diameter 30 mm
Axis 10, 12
Reference Wr. I, C. M. Kraay, RN 1965, 58–60, Prieur 49, McAlee 178
Specimens 15 (7 in the core collections)
Die-links 1–3: same obv. die. 5–6: same obv. die. 7–9: same obv. die.
Note There is another example in NY, which may have different monograms (they are not very clear; also, the exergue is off flan); this coin also has ΥΠ and ΙΒ in reversed positions. It might be thought that, as the Zeus tetradrachms of Tiberius-Claudius are regarded in this catalogue as representing a different series/mint (4109-21), the Zeus tetradrachm of Augustus of 5 BC should be placed also in this separate series, especially as a newly discovered Zeus tetradrachm of Augustus, which dates probably to about 1 BC/AD (4108), is closely linked to the later Zeus tetradrachms by its reverse style. But this is not so. First, the obv. of the 5 BC tetradrachm is very close to that of the first Tyche tetradrachms. Secondly, the rev. of the 5 BC tetradrachm is very close to that of the posthumous Philips and very different from the Zeus of the later Zeus tetradrachms. Thus it seems that the 5 BC Zeus tetradrachm should be disassociated from the later Zeus tetradrachm series and attributed to Antioch, as a forerunner of the Tyche series.

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     L: 1910,1012.9 NC 1912, 147 = Wr., Taf. I.I
2 2     B: 18215594, 11664
3 3     Hirsch 191 (22.2.1989), lot 586
4 4     C SNG 5857
5 5     NY: 1944.100.65514
6 6     B: 18215595, Fox
7 7     O AMC 733
8 8     Warsaw Wiad. Num. 5, 1961, 85ff., and pl. VI.2
9 9     Ball VI.610
10 10     Prieur coll. = Blancon 3 (1987), 48 = CNG EA 437, 6 Feb. 2019, lot 289
11 11     MMAG 197 (1960), lot 35 = Empire 3 (1985), lot 176 = CNG MBS 63, 21 May 2003, lot 1046
12 12     MMAG 336 (1972), lot 27
13 13     P: 1988/146 ex Prieur
14 14     ✸ R. McAlee coll.
15 15     Gorny & Mosch EA 267, 17 Oct. 2019, lot 3440