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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 

Extremely Rare Fleet Sestertius

169, Lot: 70. Estimate $300.
Sold for $2310. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ACHAEA. Mark Antony, with Octavia. Circa 38-37 BC. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 30.39 g). M. Oppius Capito, propraetor and praefectus classicus, striking at Piraeus(?). Head of Antony right facing draped bust of Octavia left / Quadriga of hippocamps right, with two drivers; HS (denomination) to left, D and astralagos(?) below. RPC I 1462.3 (this coin); Amandry, “Le Monnayage en bronze de Bibulus, Atratinus et Capito”, SNR 66, Série 1, A4 (this coin); CRI 285. Fair, brown patina. Four specimens recorded by RPC and Amandry; all in poor condition.


From the J. S. Wagner Collection. Ex Sotheby’s (20 July 1983), lot 116.

M. Oppius Capito was probably Antony’s senior naval officer, stationed at the main naval base at Piraeus. His coins are found distributed around central Greece, and were most likely struck at Piraeus. His coins are found in two series, a heavy and a light (this coin is the former) and it has been suggested that some were struck at Tarentum where part of Antony’s fleet was based during the joint action against Sextus Pompey in 37-36 BC. However, both series are found exclusively in the east, and it appears that Oppius Capito may not have accompanied the fleet to Sicily, but retained overall command in the east while his associate Atratinus took charge of the western fleet.