279, Lot: 185. Estimate $300. Sold for $190. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JUDAEA, Caesaraea Maritima. Volusian. AD 251-253. Æ (23mm, 9.11 g, 12h). [IMP] C C VOLVSSINVS P F AV[G] (sic), radiate, [draped, and cuirassed] bust right / Horned altar; palm and olive trees behind. Kadman, Caesarea 230 var. (obv. legend); Rosenberger 188 var. (same); SNG ANS -. Fine, green patina with traces of dusty earthen overtones. Very rare issue for this emperor and one of the last Roman issues struck at this mint.

Kadman (p. 262) notes: “...it must be remembered that according to the myths of the Greeks, Apollo was born under a date-palm and an olive tree. His mother, Leto, who was known in Egypt and Palestine as Lat and in Italy as Latona, was regarded as the fertility goddess of the date-palm and the olive. We may, therefore, assume with virtual certainty, that this altar was consecrated to Apollo.”