Featured Three recently acquired coins of Octavian/Augustus, including my first Imperial Cistophorus

What an incredible coin! That would be the star of any collection!

 

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Wonderful OP coin with elegant portrait.
I don't specialize in the first century and only have few coins from that period. This is my best denarius of Augustus. Very common, but I like the portrait.

 

As @DonnaML mentioned about cistophoric tetradrachms, I am quite glad to present my latest acquisition - on my want list for a long time.
Always admired the cistophoric coins and I find fascinating the fact that the same design lasted a long time, minted under different cities and, very interesting, this design was used by Romans.
Managed to get one - a little rugged and the centering is not perfect, but overall I think this is a good addition.


Lydia, Tralleis AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Circa 133 BC. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; the whole within wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; TIME above, [TRA]Λ to left, cult statue of Artemis Anaitis to right. SNG von Aulock 8287; SNG Copenhagen 661.
26 mm, 11,75 g

Not to many cista mystica coins were shown here, so I think they're welcome

 

That Augustan cistophorus is a beauty - congrats!

 

Very very nice, @DonnaML !

My Cisto:

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

This was after the Mithradates War, and during a very tough time for Pergamon - Perhaps my Cisto was one of the first as Tribute to Rome.

WIKIPEDIA -
In 88 BC, Mithridates VI made the city the headquarters in his first war against Rome, in which he was defeated. At the end of the war, the victorious Romans deprived Pergamon of all its benefits and of its status as a free city. Henceforth the city was required to pay tribute and accommodate and supply Roman troops, and the property of many of the inhabitants was confiscated. The members of the Pergamene aristocracy, especially Diodorus Pasparus in the 70s BC, used their own possessions to maintain good relationships with Rome, by acting as donors for the development of city. Numerous honorific inscriptions indicate Pasparus’ work and his exceptional position in Pergamon at this time.

 

Just discovering the post and I am glad it was featured, @DonnaML. Great additions to your collection - I am particularly taken with the Augustus with capricorn - both obverse & reverse.

I jumped to prow or perhaps wolf's head, although to me it seems more likely someone was just using a sharp point or small carving tool to check the silver. I like a coin with a bankers mark like this when it is unobtrusive. Here's a favorite Roman republican Moneta of T. Carisius with 4-5 little angled marks. A coin minted about minting coins.

Here's a favorite cistophoric tetradrachm from Ephesus with leopard's head growing out of the right side snake.

 

While not nearly as glorious as everyone else's coins. This is my favorite Augustus minted in Julia Traducta. I'm not sure of the range of years.

 

@DonnaML - thank you for explaining the astrology.
I started collecting cistophori before they became so expensive !


RIC 493




RIC 506



RIC 507

 

Wow. Those are three wonderful coins. The first and third are probably the best of those types I've ever seen! I haven't done any research, but given current prices in general, it wouldn't surprise me at all if it would cost something in excess of $10,000 for someone to buy those three coins today.