Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. (Bronze, 26.5 mm, 12.93 g, 1 h), uncertain mint in Asia Minor, circa 27 BC. CAESA[R] Bare head of Augustus to right. Rev. AVGVS/TVS in two lines within laurel wreath. RIC² 485 var. (obverse inscription). Cf. RPC 2231 and 2235. Unusual spelling mistake on the reverse. Attractive green patina. Very fine.

The obverse of this coin clearly has the spelling CAESAR instead of the normal spelling CAISAR on RPC 2231. RPC 2235 does has the spelling CAESAR, but on that issue the reverse legend AVGVSTVS appears unbroken and in a single line. RPC I p. 381 mentions an example in the Ashmolean Museum's collection that also has the spelling CAESAR, and suggests that it is either some sort of imitation or an intermediate type between RPC nos. 2231 and 2235. Other than the unusual legend break on the reverse of our coin (S-T as opposed to V-S), our coin does not appear to be imitative.

Unpublished variety?