A Roman Imperatorial, Provincial Coin of Octavian, or is it?

I picked up an interesting coin at a coin show last weekend. It was a bit out of my normal collecting area, Provincial, Imperatorial, but who can go wrong with an Octavian coin in high relief?



Augustus Æ21 of Uncertain Mint, Asia Minor.
Circa 27 BC – AD 14.
Obv - Bare head right
Rev - Spear, sella quaestoria (Quaestor’s seat of office), and fiscus (imperial treasury); Q below sella.
RPC 5409 (5410?)
7.63 g, 21mm, 0 h. Good Very Fine.

The coin description lists Octavian on the front.

But... on the back of the flip the name changed.


There is some debate as to the portrait on this type, as well as its origin. The obverse style is strikingly similar to that of RPC 4082 (Cilicia), which has the legend PRINCEPS FELIX, identifying the portrait indubitably as Augustus. It has also been suggested that the type portrays C. Sosius, a general of Marc Antony, who was quaestor of Syria and Cilicia in 38 BC. (Roma Num.)

I am not sure if I should be unhappy. It is a neat coin with a good portriate, but of whom?

PS - the coin was pardoned and released from its case.

 

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I don't know if it's Augustus or not, but I think it's a fantastic coin. I love the symbolism. I think you did right by getting this one.

 

The identification of the portrait is still uncertain, but surely it's more interesting--and definitely more valuable--as a portrait of Sosius. I don't see how you can lose here, if you bought it as Octavian.

 

I like the coin a lot too. Congrats.

 

Here's what I wrote when I catalogued the Randy Haviland Collection in Gemini X:

The portrait on the obverse of this coin is very much in dispute. There is a detailed discussion in RPC I, pp. 715-716. The portrait has been attributed to Brutus by Friedlander, Augustus by Gaebler and finally Caesar by M. Price. The portrait bears a striking resemblance to that of RPC 4082-3 which has been interpreted as Augustus and attributed to Cilicia. The obverse legend of that type is PRINCEPS FELIX. The coins of our type have normally been considered Macedonian due to the similarities between the reverse type and those of the Quaestor, Aesillas. However, RPC notes that the hasta, which symbolized imperium, the money chest, and quaestor's chair were objects that symbolized Roman authority and there is no other evidence linking the coin to Macedonia. Additionally, no specimens have been found in Macedonia, but two are reported to have come to light in Cilicia, which accordingly seems more likely to have been the approximate location of the mint. The most recent suggestion is that this is the portrait of the governor Sosius, who was stationed in Syria and commanded the fleet during the time of dispute between Mark Antony and Octavian. He later surrendered to Octavian and was pardoned after Antony and Cleopatra fled Actium.

 

It looks like an Octavian portrait to me, and a darn nice coin. But I agree with Volodya, it'd be even better if it were a portrait of Sosius. In any case, if you're prepared to embrace the uncertainty and mystery about it, then all is good .

 

The guy has a beard, in my book that rules out both Octavian and Julius Caesar
Very nice coin , congrats
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Sosius

 

You'll find coins of Octavian circa 40-30 BC where he's depicted with a beard. Some examples below, not mine:

 

Great, never seen these before , thanks zumbly

 

I think it's a fascinating coin! The mystery of whether it's actually Sosius or Octavian/Augustus intrigues me.

 

Mine.

 

I borrowed the image from CNG, I hope you don't mind. One of the nicest of these that I've seen!

 

Not at all. Flattered in fact!

 

Congrats rrdenarius ... that is a very sweet OP-score



Sadly, I have nothing special to toss into your thread (*sigh* ... wish-list)

 

Cool coin, congrats!