I purchased this one years ago from Henry Lindgren of Antioch Associates. It's still one of my favorite coins. I'd love to see your cistophori! Antony and Octavia AR cistophorus Ephesus, 39 BCE 25.6 mm, 11.71 gm Obv: M ANTONINVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT, Jugate heads of Marcus Antonius and Octavia to right; he wears ivy wreath. Rev: III VIR RPC, Cista mystica surmounted by figure of Bacchus, standing to left, holding cantharus and leaning on thyrsus; on either side, coiled serpent. SNG Cop. 408; SNG von Aulock 6555; Franke KZR 472; RSC 3; Sydenham 1198; RPC 2202; Sear 1513; BMCRR East 135
Mysia - Pergamon - Cysta mystica Tetradrachm AR 12,7 gram - 29mm 133-67 BC bought from a UK coindealer, I love the eye appeal.
Sweet!! => fantastic OP-winner!! (congrats) Oh, and that's also a very cool thread-addition, Andres ... Ummm, I happen to have an example as well (I love this coin-type)
Very nice @Roman Collector ... I was looking at one very similar over the last week! My Cistophorus... Mysia, Pergamum (Pergamon) 85-76 BC Cista Mystica or Cistophoric Tetradrachm AR Tetradrachm 12.46 x 26 mm Obverse: Cista mystica with serpent; all within oak / ivy wreath Reverse: bow-case with serpents, PRE monogram to left, KP / PRY monogram above, serpent-staff right. Ref: Kleiner 36 Ex: @Ancientnoob
Nice coins all. So now is the time to pull out my only Cistophoric Tet which I've shown ad nauseam: MARCUS ANTONIUS Ionia Silver Cistophoric Tetradrachm OBVERSE: M ANTONIVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT, head of Antony right, wreathed in ivy, lituus below, all within wreath of ivy and grapes REVERSE: III VIR R P C, bust of Octavia right on cista flanked by snakes Ephesus 39 BC 11.8gm, 26mm RPC I 2201, Sydenham 1197, Sear 262
Wow, I love the OP coin with jugate Mark Antony and Octavia, and Bing's great Mark Antony portrait. I only have one cistophoric tetradrachm and it came from a large mixed lot. At first I wasn't too keen on it because of the horn silver (or whatever the encrustations are) but it has grown on me. MYSIA, Pergamon 76 BCE 12.4 gm Obv: cista mystica with serpent; all within ivy wreath Rev: bow-case with serpents; snake-entwined staff to the right; monogram left; AΠ above; monogram & star above Ref: Kleiner, Pergamum 25; Pinder 122
Here are a few of mine. Tbe first is the same type as @Bing posted. This is actually the more common type of Antony/Octavia cistophori. Your OP example is scarcer. For years, dealers described the more common type as "scarce" likely based on museum collections which, of course, favor rarities! The second, is a Claudius cisophorus that I've posted many times and you are all probably getting tired of it.
