643. KINGS of THRACE, Sapaian. Rhoemetalces I, with Pythodoris, Augustus, and Livia. Late 1st century BCAD 12. Æ (29mm, 16.83 g, 6h). Diademed head of Rhoemetalces and draped bust of Pythodoris, conjoined right / Heads of Augustus, laureate, and Livia, conjoined right; to right, capricorn right, holding globe. Youroukova 182-4, 186; RPC I 1708. Good VF, lovely natural green patina. Choice for issue. ($500)
Vespasian Junior
644. IONIA, Smyrna. Vespasian Junior. Caesar, AD ?-95/6. Æ (17mm, 2.75 g, 12h). Bare head right / Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm frond. Klose Type XLII, Serie A, Gruppe a, 1 (V1/R1); RPC I 1028. VF, brown surfaces, minor roughness. Rare. ($500)
Daughter of Claudius and Messalina
645. LYDIA, Sardis. Claudia Octavia. Augusta, AD 54-62. Æ (18mm, 6.06 g, 12h). Mindios, strategos for the second time. Struck under Nero, circa AD 60. ΘEAN OKTAOYIAN, draped bust right, wearing wreath of grain ears / Demeter, holding torch in each hand, being drawn right by biga of serpents. RPC I 2999; BMC 125; Waddington 5245. Good VF, dark green patina. Rare – five cited in RPC, three additional in CoinArchives. ($500) Beloved by the populace but hated by her husband, Claudia Octavia’s marriage to her stepbrother Nero was an unhappy one. When an affair with his mistress Poppaea Sabina resulted in pregnancy, Nero divorced Octavia and had her banished to the island of Pandateria on a false (and ironic) charge of adultery. The Roman population demanded her return, but she was soon after executed on the order of Poppaea.
Very Rare Silandus Medallion
646. LYDIA, Silandus. Crispina. Augusta, AD 178-182. Æ Medallion (41mm, 48.87 g, 6h). Lucius, principal archon. Draped bust right / Male figure (satyr?), holding torch, and Dionysus, holding thyrsus, standing right, facing Pan, raising right hand, standing left; panther at Dionysus’ side; to far left, serpent entwined around altar. LS –; SNG München –; SNG von Aulock 3176-7. VF, green patina, roughness. Very rare. ($2000) 142