I kind of inadvertently acquired two coins in this auction today. Not sure how it happened but it did. Here is a wiki link that explains the two centuries of relative peace from Octavian to Marcus Aurelius announced by the first coin and consummated so to speak by the second one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Romana I have to give up 2 coins now to keep my collection at 100: Octavian, 44-27 BC. Cistophorus (Silver, 28 mm, 10.74 g, 1 h), Ephesus, 28 BC. IMP•CAESAR•DIVI•F•COS•VI•LIBERTATIS•P•R•VINDEX• Laureate head of Octavian to right. Rev. PAX Pax standing front, head to left, holding caduceus with her right hand; behind her, a snake emerging from cista mystica; all within laurel wreath. RIC 476. RPC I 2203. Sutherland Group I. Nearly fine. From the R. Marbacher Collection, Switzerland. (Do not know about this collection- will search it up) Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, 139-161. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 31 mm, 27.64 g, 12 h), Rome, 145. [AVRE]LIVS CAESAR AVG [PII F COS II] Bare head of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. [VOTA PVBLICA / S C] Faustina and Marcus Aurelius standing vis-à-vis, clasping right hands; behind them stands Concordia placing her hands on their shoulders. BMC 1786. Cohen 1022. RIC 1253a. Minor smoothing and some cleaning marks, otherwise, fine.
Both are the kind of coin that appeal to me. The idea of keeping the collection stable at a number also appeals to me but my number is higher. I could not cut to 100!
Nice additions - I like them both very much. Nice mellow tone/wear patterns to them with fine artistry.
I admired that MA sestertius when I was going through the auction catalog. I regret not bidding on it, but only a little because I’m glad to see that you won it. The Octavian cistophorus is very appealing as well. Nice buys!
Nice pick up. I also bid on that Cistophoric Tetradrachm, glad it went to someone I know. Went for a good price. I didn't get anything today at the Leu auction I was also outbid on a Vespasian denarius by Orfew.
Child of the 60s that I am, I've often thought that a Pax collection would be a worthwhile pursuit. I started browsing through my collection and was surprised to discover how many different examples of Pax I already have. She appears frequently during some of the least peaceful times in Roman history, and is particularly common during the 3rd century. Seems people always aspire to peace but rarely achieve it. Trebonianus Gallus Augustus, A.D. 251-253 Silver Double Denarius Milan mint Obv: IMP C C TREB GALLVS AVG Rev: PAX AETERNA - Pax, standing left, holding branch and traverse scepter RIC 71 22mm, 3.8g.
Octavian and Augustus are the same person. Are you making the distinction between the time when he was known as Octavian and the time after the Senate declared him "Augustus", i.e "most esteemed"?