Lot 202: Cilicia, Aegeae. Pseudo-autonomous issue. 1st century A.D. Æ. CY 90 (A.D. 43/4). Isis Euploia, Protectress of the Fleet.

Cilicia, Aegeae. Pseudo-autonomous issue. 1st century A.D. Æ (30 mm, 18.03 g, 12 h). CY 90 (A.D. 43/4). Diademed head of Isis right, wearing kalathos; before, cornucopiae / Athena Promachos advancing left, wielding javelin and holding forth shield; in left field, AΘA above date ([retrograde P]). SNG BN -; SNG Levante 1696 = RPC 4039 (same obv. die). Extremely rare - the third known specimen. Green patina, light porosity. Very fine. 

Ex Donovan Collection. 

Other than the Levante specimen, which is the only example of this type cited by the authors of RPC, a second specimen which is comparable to both our coin and the Levante example sold in Gemini IX (8 January 2012), 555, for $4000 plus the buyer''s premium.

The cataloguer of the Gemini specimen made an interesting observation regarding the identification of Isis on this coin, noting that since the port at Aegeae served as a Roman naval base, perhaps Isis seen here is best identified as Isis Euploia. The term euploia translates to "happy voyage" or "good sailing", and Isis''s worship in this guise was first fostered by Ptolemy II. As their livelihoods and quite often their very lives depended on the sea, Isis Euploia was held in particularly high esteem as the protectress of the fleet amongst sailors.

• Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
• Lot #: 202
• Listing #: 231287
• Closed: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:07:00 PM CT
• Estimate: $300