CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

Emperor:

Trajan

Denomination:

AR Tetradrachm

Composition:

Silver

Date:

98-99 AD (COS II)

Obverse:

AYTOKP KAIC NEP TRAIANOC CEB ΓEPM, Laureate head of Trajan, right

Reverse:

ΔHMARPX EΞ YΠAT B, Eagle seen from front, head right, wreath in beak, and wings spread, standing on thunderbolt with circular grip and few or no fillets attached

Reference:

Prieur 1486 (Tyre; this coin cited and illustrated); McAlee 426; RPC III 3511/4 (this coin cited and illustrated); Wruck 139; Butcher p. 82, 4-5; BMC Galatia p. 185, 288; cf. SGICV 1077

Size:

28.24mm, 14.5g, 7h

Province:

Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem

Grade:

aVF, toned, some light scratches

Rarity:

very rare

Rarity Details:

only five known to Prieur, three in CoinArchives, and nine specimens cited by the authors of RPC, including this coin

Pedigreed:

Provenance:

Pedigreed: RPC Plate Coin; Prieur Plate Coin; From the Michael Prieur Collection, ex Classical Numismatic Group eAuction 443 (1 May 2019), Lot 318; Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 67 (2 May 1994), Lot 483

Information:

RPC and Prieur Plate coin. This coin is cited and illustrated in two standard references: Amandry, M., A. Burnett & J. Mairat. Roman Provincial Coinage III, From Nerva to Hadrian (AD 96–138). (London & Paris, 2015); and Prieur, M. & K. Prieur. The Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms and their fractions from 57 BC to AD 258. (Lancaster, PA, 2000)

I, Peter A. Piliouras of Ancient Coin Traders irrevocably guarantee for life to the Purchaser that this ancient coin is authentic. If this coin is deemed not to be authentic by a professional certification service, then I will refund to the Purchaser the full cost of acquiring the coin (including shipping) together with the certification fees.