Rare Augustus provincial sestertius

[Robi]

Hi! 

I have always been intrigued by the early provincial coinage of Octavian Augustus. Especially the CA series - does anyone know what is currently the most current hypothesis about the importance of CA and the mint producing this series of coins. Recently I managed to purchase a very rare sesterce from this series, RPC 2227, only 2 pieces, I have not found any auction quotation for this type. This type differs in the legend on the obverse: IMP CAESAR instead of AUGUSTUS, as is the case on the more popular sesterces from the CA series, and it differs in the wreath on the reverse. Weight 24.12.g, diameter 32 mm. Reverse is in a poor condition, but avers I think is in a good shape.

Please share your coins from this series.

Region: Uncertain 
City: Uncertain Asian mint of CA coinage 
Reign: Augustus 
Person (obv.):  Augustus
Dating: about 27 BC
Obverse inscription: IMP CAISAR
Obverse design: bare head of Augustus, right
Reverse inscription: C A
Reverse design: inscription in rostral wreath

Diameter: 32 mm
Weight    24.12 g
Reference    RIC 496 corr., Howgego 1a: sestertius
Specimens: 2 (1 in the core collections)

[shanxi]

9 hours ago, Robi said:

Recently I managed to purchase a very rare sesterce from this series, RPC 2227, only 2 pieces

Did you notice that your coin is now on RPC?

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/2227

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Nice coin. Enjoy it.

[Ryro]

Coingrats! It has a nice portrait and the rostral wreath is very cool. 

Here's an Augustus Dupondius of mine with the rostral wreath reverse:

MYSIA, SYRIA or CYPRUS (Bronze, 13.24, 27mm) Ephesus, Pergamum, Antioch or Paphos(?) Augustus. 27 (BC-AD 14) AE dupondius, struck ca. 25 BC

Obv: AVGVSTVS - name clockwise behind bare head of Augustus right, all within dotted border

Rev: large CA within rostral wreath (ships' beaks and laurel-branches) between dotted inner and outer borders; between wreath ties, a large pellet.

RPC 2234; BMC 721; Howgego 2b

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

It's one of my very favorite affordable types of the whole Roman series.

I got a good deal one a nice one about 15 years ago.

The thinking then was that it came from Cyprus, but with the ridiculous import bans, I'm happy to let the mint site remain in Anatolia or Syria.

[CPK]

Very nice coin @Robi!

[Robi]

@shanxi yes 😉, so we have a 3 pieces

[Robi]

9 hours ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

Nice coin. Enjoy it.

Thank You!

[Robi]

@Ryro thank You, yeh i like a portret too. Thanks for sharing your dupondius, i have one too and also a few others from this series.

[Robi]

@Nerosmyfavorite68 thank You for sharinhg your coin - yes its a very affordable type, unless someone wants to buy it in very good condition - then they can cost a lot.

And the provincial "sesterce" - this is the only possibility to have in your collection a portrait sesterce of Augustus minted during his lifetime.

Greetings,

Robert

[Julius Germanicus]

Here is my specimen of the OP Sestertius type:

And this is what David Sear wrote about the type and it´s significance

[Edessa]

Here is another:

Asia Minor, Uncertain mint. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ34 (25.35g, 12h). CA coinage. Struck circa 25 BC. Obv: [AVG]VSTVS; Bare head right. Rev: Large CA in dotted circle within laurel wreath. Ref: Howgego, Coinage, Class 2a; RPC I 2233 (28 specimens); SNG von Aulock 6671. Brown surfaces, slight edge damage, reverse scratches. Near Very Fine. Popular “portrait sestertius” of the emperor. From the Richard McAlee Collection. Ex R.D. Frederick Collection. Ex CNG e288 (10 Oct 2012), Lot 337. Ex CNG e539 (31 May 2023), Lot 495.

 

[Al Kowsky]

Many of the Roman provincial mints struck large bronze coins that are never labeled sestertii despite having the size & weight of a sestertius, in fact many of these coins have no designated denomination. I often wondered if these coins had the same buying power of a sestertius 🤔. Pictured below are two from my collection.