New addition: a very rare, early Julio-Claudian Sestertius (w/ NF provenance)

[CPK]

Earlier this year, I was delighted to add this very rare and interesting coin to my collection: a portrait sestertius of Tiberius, struck under Augustus. This type and its variants are the only portrait sestertii of Tiberius, and they don't appear on the market very often. Nice ones usually start around the $1k mark and go from there.

This specimen isn't in the best of shape (which is how I was able to acquire it 😉) but even so, all the main devices are visible, and it features a very passable portrait. Like all early Imperial sestertii, it's an impressive coin in the hand!

If you are experiencing a moment of déjà vu looking at this coin, you are not wrong! As an added perk, this coin also carries a provenance to the renowned @Julius Germanicus collection of Roman Imperial portrait sestertii. I am honored to become the new owner, and I must thank Julius once more for generously sending me a PDF of the coin's Sear Certificate, information from which I have incorporated into the description below.

 

TIBERIUS, AD 14-37
AE Sestertius (36.43mm, 22.06g, 6h)
Struck under Augustus, AD 10-11. Lugdunum mint
Obverse: TI CAESAR AVGVSTI F IMPERATOR V, bare head of Tiberius left
Reverse: ROM ET AVG, the great Altar of Roma and Augustus at Lugdunum, flanked by columns surmounted by statues of Victory right and left, the altar ornamented with row of uncertain objects along the top and three wreaths on the front panel
References: RIC I 240 (R2), RCV 1753
A very rare portrait sestertius of Tiberius. Toned orichalcum with corroded surfaces.
From the Julius Germanicus Collection.

"This sestertius was issued from the great imperial mint of Lugdunum, in Gaul, during the closing years of the reign of Augustus. It depicts Tiberius in his early 50s and the obverse inscription records his fifth imperatorial acclamation. The reverse shows the Altar of Lugdunum, dedicated by Augustus on August 1, 10 BC, and the invariable design for the aes coinage of this mint. This series was issued in the names of both Augustus and Tiberius and in a range of denominations, from the sestertius down to the semis. The sestertii are of considerable rarity and are generally found in a very worn state of preservation."

- David R. Sear, COA historical & numismatic notes

 

I have to say it still looks better in real life, but for what it is worth, here is a video of the coin in hand:

 

 

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment and/or share your own relevant coins! 🙂 

[Roman Collector]

[ominus1]

..very kool man11 🙂🐰

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Scoring a rare type is a good thing, and the nice provenance is a plus!

The only Tiberius sestertius I have is a decrepit, Spanish provincial one.

 

TIBERIUS AE 'heavy dupondius'. Struck at Augusta Emerita, Spain. laureate bust left. Reverse - AVGVSTA EMERITA, large city gate. 35mm, 24.4g.

[Julius Germanicus]

I am glad my Tiberius has found a loving new home ☺️

[AETHER]

very cool.

[Julius Germanicus]

16 hours ago, CPK said:

Earlier this year, I was delighted to add this very rare and interesting coin to my collection: a portrait sestertius of Tiberius, struck under Augustus. This type and its variants are the only portrait sestertii of Tiberius, and they don't appear on the market very often. Nice ones usually start around the $1k mark and go from there.

This specimen isn't in the best of shape (which is how I was able to acquire it 😉) but even so, all the main devices are visible, and it features a very passable portrait. Like all early Imperial sestertii, it's an impressive coin in the hand!

If you are experiencing a moment of déjà vu looking at this coin, you are not wrong! As an added perk, this coin also carries a provenance to the renowned @Julius Germanicus collection of Roman Imperial portrait sestertii. I am honored to become the new owner, and I must thank Julius once more for generously sending me a PDF of the coin's Sear Certificate, information from which I have incorporated into the description below.

 

TIBERIUS, AD 14-37
AE Sestertius (36.43mm, 22.06g, 6h)
Struck under Augustus, AD 10-11. Lugdunum mint
Obverse: TI CAESAR AVGVSTI F IMPERATOR V, bare head of Tiberius left
Reverse: ROM ET AVG, the great Altar of Roma and Augustus at Lugdunum, flanked by columns surmounted by statues of Victory right and left, the altar ornamented with row of uncertain objects along the top and three wreaths on the front panel
References: RIC I 240 (R2), RCV 1753
A very rare portrait sestertius of Tiberius. Toned orichalcum with corroded surfaces.
From the Julius Germanicus Collection.

"This sestertius was issued from the great imperial mint of Lugdunum, in Gaul, during the closing years of the reign of Augustus. It depicts Tiberius in his early 50s and the obverse inscription records his fifth imperatorial acclamation. The reverse shows the Altar of Lugdunum, dedicated by Augustus on August 1, 10 BC, and the invariable design for the aes coinage of this mint. This series was issued in the names of both Augustus and Tiberius and in a range of denominations, from the sestertius down to the semis. The sestertii are of considerable rarity and are generally found in a very worn state of preservation."

- David R. Sear, COA historical & numismatic notes

 

I have to say it still looks better in real life, but for what it is worth, here is a video of the coin in hand:

 

 

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment and/or share your own relevant coins! 🙂 

Here is some more provenance information for the OP coin: acquired from Sebastian Sänn on 12.12.2017.

Great in-hand-video by the way 😍

[CPK]

Thanks everyone! 🙂

@Nerosmyfavorite68 Those big provincial coins are neat. That's a heavy one!
 

@Julius Germanicus Thanks! I will add that additional information to my collection database. 👍

[David Atherton]

There's nothing quite like a big old 1st century bronze. Congrats!

[Limes]

Now that's something else @CPK! What an absolute fantastic coin. It takes a true passionate collector to see through the rougness and admire the beauty of a coin 🙂

Unfortunately, I don't have bronzes of Tiberius but I'm looking to add a smaller denomination with the same reverse type as yours to my collection. Just haven't found the right one yet. 

[CPK]

19 hours ago, David Atherton said:

There's nothing quite like a big old 1st century bronze. Congrats!

Thanks! I think part of what makes them stand out is the wide flan, generally 35mm+. The flan size shrank just a bit by the 2nd century and of course plummeted by the time of the 3rd century. These early ones are special. 🙂 

6 hours ago, Limes said:

Now that's something else @CPK! What an absolute fantastic coin. It takes a true passionate collector to see through the rougness and admire the beauty of a coin 🙂

Unfortunately, I don't have bronzes of Tiberius but I'm looking to add a smaller denomination with the same reverse type as yours to my collection. Just haven't found the right one yet. 

Thanks Limes! I think we have very similar taste in coins. I wish you success in your search! 🙂