HistoricalCoins





                              New Search 


                                Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1600. Closing Date: Jun 08, 
                                2005. HADRIAN. 117-138 AD. AR Cistophoric 
                                Tetradrachm (10.54 gm, 7h). Nicomedia mint. 
                                Struck after 128 AD. Bidding Closed Estimate 
                                $1000 

                              HADRIAN. 117-138 AD. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm 
                              (10.54 gm, 7h). Nicomedia mint. Struck after 128 
                              AD. Laureate and draped bust right / Octastyle 
                              temple set on three-tiered podium, ROM S P AVG 
                              across frieze, pellet in pediment. RIC II 461b; 
                              Metcalf, Cistophori B1, 5 (O4/R-; unlisted rev. 
                              die); BMCRE 1099 note; RSC 240b. VF. ($1000)

                              From the Garth R. Drewry Collection.

                              Cistophori were produced in the name of the 
                              Commune Bithyniae only once, under Hadrian. The 
                              inscription on the frieze, reconstructed as 
                              ROM(ae) S(enatui) P(opulo) AVG(usto) and 
                              translated as "To Rome, the Senate, the People, 
                              and Augustus" tentatively identifies the building 
                              as a temple of Rome and Augustus at Nicomedia. No 
                              archaeological remains of this structure have as 
                              yet been found, and reconstructions of it are 
                              based entirely on the second century numismatic 
                              evidence. Both Tacitus and Dio Cassius report that 
                              in 19 BC Augustus did authorize the construction 
                              of a temple to Rome and himself at Pergamum, an 
                              event commemorated on his cistophori there. No 
                              such evidence for a temple at Nicomedia occurs 
                              earlier than this cistophorus.


High bid of $1200, $1380 including 15% buyers fee, or approximately €972, £660, C$1500, A$1560, on June 8, 2005.

Used by permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com