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Orbis Collectibles

Uncertain mint, Octavia, tetradrachm — Bust of Octavia on Cista (CN type 22342)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 39 BC

Issuing entity

Roman Republic

Tetradrachm in silver under Octavia, dated c. 39 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 22342 (period: Hellenistic Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Head of Marcus Antonius, right, lituus downwards, within ivy wreath. Legend: M ANTONIVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT. Reverse: Bust of Octavia on Cista, right; sorrounded by two snakes. Legend: III VIR R P C. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 10.89 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 27 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Kapossy and Righetti, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. Schweiz. 2: Münzen der Antike: Katalog der Sammlung Jean-Pierre Righetti im Bernischen Historischen Museum, Bern 1993, nr. 751, pl. 51; Burnett et al., RPC I: Roman Provincial Coinage. Vol. I: From the death of Caesar to the death of Vitellius: 44 BC-AD 69, London [u.a.] 1992, nr. 2201; Linked type corpus.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
3

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Following the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius) allied with Octavian and Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate, dividing governance of the Roman Republic among themselves. Civil war between Antony and Octavian was temporarily averted in 40 BC through Antony's marriage to Octavia the Younger, Octavian's elder sister. Tetradrachms, large silver coins originating in Greece, were widely used across the Mediterranean for state expenses, military pay, and political messaging.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
tetradrachm
Recorded diameter
27 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
10.89 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Octavia

Design

Obverse type
Head of Marcus Antonius, right, lituus downwards, within ivy wreath.
Reverse type
Bust of Octavia on Cista, right; sorrounded by two snakes.
Obverse legend
M ANTONIVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT
Reverse legend
III VIR R P C

Identification

Period
Hellenistic Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/22342
Type corpus identifier
CN type 22342

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Research required
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

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