Nomos 10

Octavian, Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.99 g 4), military mint traveling with Octavian in Italy, 42 BC. CAESAR.III.VIR.R.P.C. Bearded head of Octavian to right. Rev. CAESAR.DIC.PER Curule chair with wreath on top and with legs decorated with barely visible eagles. Crawford 497/2d. CRI 137. Sydenham 1322. An attractive toned example with a notable pedigree. Some striking flatness, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of E. J. Haeberlin, Cahn & Hess, 17 July 1933, 3069.

E. J. Haeberlin (1847-1925) was one of the great Frankfurt numismatists, his speciality being the Roman Republic. Thus it was certainly understandable that his collection was sold through a joint catalogue made by the two great Frankfurt firms, A.E.Cahn and A. Hess, and written as the first major work of the then young Herbert Cahn. But the year when this catalogue came out, 1933, was not a good year: Hitler came to power and far-seeing and pessimistic scholars, collectors and dealers began leaving Germany. Had this sale taken longer to prepare it is likely that it would have had to be sold in Basel, Lucerne or Geneva rather than in Frankfurt.