Roman Imperial: Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AV aureus (19mm, 7.89 gm, 11h). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5, edge cut....
Description
Elusive Augustus Sphinx Aureus
Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). AV aureus (19mm, 7.89 gm, 11h). NGC
Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5, edge cut. Pergamum(?), 19-18 BC. AVGVSTVS,
bare head of Augustus right / Sphinx seated right. Calicó 156a
(Nicomedia or Nicaea). RIC 512 (Pergamum) corr. (legend, head
right). Wonderfully bright example of this rare type.Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 125 (23 June 2021), lot 598; Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 9 (18 September 2013), lot 1139; Stack's Bowers, Sale 174 (11 January 2013), lot 5423; SKA, Auction 7 (1987), lot 772.
The sphinx was initially used by Augustus as his personal signet, which called to his divine linage to Apollo - the ring which supposedly once belonged to his mother, who became pregnant with Augustus after being blessed by Apollo (as according to Suetonius). However, as Augustus began to establish his own legacy, the sphinx was replaced with the head of Alexander the Great: his idol and his model for empiric success.
Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000.
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid (minimum $29) per lot.
This lot is in: 5 -
Signature® Floor Session - Platinum Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 34001-34318) - 6:00 PM Central Time, Monday, January 12, 2026 (7:00 PM Eastern Time).
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
Exhibition Viewing Times, Title Page, Floor Session and License Information
Additional Location Info:
InterContinental New York Barclay
111 East 48th Street
New York, NY 10017
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | Ancient Coins Grading Tutorial
World and Ancient Coin Bibliography