Augustus - 27 BC - 14 AD, Denarius, Rare, Mars right 
    Closed at:US $355.00

    Auction Date:Dec-01-07 09:00:00 PST   

ROMAN EMPIRE: Augustus, 27 BC-14 AD, AR denarius (3.54g). RIC 
I 150a (R2) variety; BMC 438 variety. Spanish mint, uncertain, 
perhaps Colonia Patricia: Struck July 18 BC- 17/16 BC, S P Q R 
CAESARI AVGVSTO: Bare head of Augustus to right / VOT P SVSC 
PRO SAL ET RED I O M SACR: Mars, helmeted and cloaked, 
standing left, BUT with head turned right, right hand holding 
vertical vexillum, left hand holding parazonium over shoulder, 
nice example with toning around devices. Metal has very slight 
porosity, a bit more so on the reverse, 17.8 mm; Die axis 7.0, 
VF and extremely rare. 
Estimated Value $500 - 750. 

This coin is unlisted in RIC with the head of Mars turned 
right (similar to the reverse of RIC 148) and this obverse 
legend. Thus, this coin is quite rare. We know of two other 
examples: Frank Sternberg AG Auction 23, October 29th, 2000, 
lot 429, having both obverse and reverse dies different from 
the coin at auction. Mediterranean C oins GmbH had an example 
with the same obverse and reverse dies as the coin at auction. 
Both other coins were misattributed.