Ancient Rome - 23 CE Tiberius AE39 NGC Choice XF★

ZEUGITANA. Colonia Iulia Pia Paterna. Tiberius (AD 14-37). AE "sestertius" (39mm, 37.80 gm, 1h). NGC Choice XF★ Strike: 5/5 – Surface: 5/5, flan flaw. P. Cornelius Dolabella, proconsul and P. Gavius Casca, magistrate, AD 23. Obverse: TI•CAE•DIVI•AVG•F•-AVG•IMP•VIII•COS•IIII•, bare head of Tiberius facing left. Reverse: PERMIS•P•DOLABELLAE•PRO•-COS•C•P•GA-VIO•CAS•D•D•, Mercury, nude, wearing winged petasus and winged shoes, seated left on rock, winged caduceus in outstretched right hand, left hand resting on rock; C-P/I across fields, around Mercury. Exceptionally attractive for the type. Splendidly struck on chestnut and mahogany colored medallic flan.

Sources:  RPC I 768. SNG Copenhagen 55. M. Amandry, Notes de numismatique africaine V/7, Colonia Iulia Pia Paterna, RN 1990, 61, 1 (same dies).  

Bust of Tiberius on exhibit at the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse, France. Photo: wikipedia.

From the Historical Scholar Collection. Ex New York Sale IV (17 January 2002), lot 306

This impressive bronze was struck at Colonia Pia Iulia Paterna, the location of which is not known, though finds suggest the far shore of the Cap Bon peninsula opposite Carthage (perhaps the city Curubis). It names two men: P. Gavius Casca (perhaps IV Viri of the colony) and P. Cornelius Dolabella, proconsul and seemingly grandson of the more famous Dolabella of the Imperatorial age. This Dolabella was also well known as he restored peace to Africa by killing the Numidian brigand Tacfarinas. The reverse legend is of some interest: PERMIS indictaes the coin was issued by the permission of Tiberius, and D D shows it was minted by decree of the decurions, the councilors who ran the local government. These men were usually ex-magistrates - wealthy men of good reputation - who were eligible to serve as decurions for life. The seated Mercury may refer to the Cap Bon, the Promunturium Mercurii, as Echkel and Müller suggest.