The seller attributed this coin to RIC 528. It has the IMP AUGUST legend on the obverse but it has a wreath of ten bundles of leaves on the back. All I could find have the eight leaves on the wreath. I found one coin with the ten leaved wreath but with only the AUGUST legend on the obverse. Is this coin still attributed correctly to RIC-528? (Wildwinds has been down again for me lately.) This is a larger issue than the more common ones although I know it is in bad shape, it is Augustus and wasn't too expensive for a pretty hefty one. Augustus Syria, Antioch Mint 27BC-14 AD Obverse: Laureate head of Augustus right Reverse: SC in linear circle in laurel wreath References: RIC 528 Size: 30mm, 15.22g (posted in remembrance of one of the most significant days in Roman and world history- March, 15th 44 BCE)
Hi @Ken Dorney , from what I get from Wildwinds the RPC does count leaves. All the types listed have "eight leaves" on the wreath. Do you have an RPC or where could I check if there is an entry with "Ten leaves" on the wreath?
One possible reference for this one would be McAlee 192(a) from "The Coins of Roman Antioch", a great reference if you like coins of Antioch. The author notes that this would be RPC 4102 but that RPC has the legend wrong in that they omitted the IMP before the AVGVST. This coin has a bare head. The other possibility is McAlee 206(a) which has a laureate bust, RPCSupp. 1 S-4247A. There are differences in bust styles between the two but the easiest way to differentiate is whether there is a tie behind the head. There seems to be a hint of one on the OP but I'm not sure. Interesting coin!
Thanks for the info. i will check out the book you referenced and copy-paste your note here into the file on this coins attribution. much appreciated
I have all the RPC's. It simply notes "S C; in laurel wreath". This is corrected in RPC Supp. I. I didnt look as closely to your coin at first, now I think @TTerrier has it right and it probably is closer to RPC4247 as I believe the portrait is laureate. So, you might call it RPC 4247 var. (as yours have 10 leaves and not 8). Nevertheless, I think the number of leaves are akin to counting the number of bricks on a Constantinian campgate.
Octavianus/Augustus is a fascinating figure in history! I was Blessed with the opportunity to acquire one of his coins. Many thanks to @John Anthony
Thanks for your input Ken. The LRBs is not an area of interest for me but I think I get the gist. However as some might know here a big part of my personal interest in the ancients involves the religious symbolism and sacred geometry. The wreath of Laurel is a profound religious symbol for these ancient peoples and so are the simple geometric patterns they express. The circle or wheel of ten has a distinction from that of eight. These peoples were steeped in their religious symbolism and divine right to rule a nation or empire. I wasn't really looking to uncover an unusual anomaly when I bid on this. These coins in poor condition but with famous personages I have been giving to students. However when I discovered that I couldn't find another quite like it in such a famous minter of coins as Augustus it peeked my research interest.
