★ Unique Reverse ★

Pescennius Niger, 193-194. Denarius (Silver, 18.5 mm, 2.72 g, 6 h), Antioch. IMP CAES C PES C NIGER IVT AV ( sic! ) Laureate head of Niger to right. Rev. IOVI - PRAE Jupiter seated to left, holding Nike in his right hand and a spear with his left. BMC -. Cohen -. RIC -. With an unrecorded reverse legend, toned and clear. Minor marks, otherwise, very fine.

From the Collection of Prof. James M. Collier, ex Classical Numismatic Group e165, 20 May 2007, 264 and from the collection of M. Melcher, Classical Numismatic Group MBS 61, 25 September 2002, 1850.

Niger's fairly immense silver coinage struck in Antioch (rare today because so much was recalled after his defeat) is notorious for its often mistaken legends, as here. In addition to the out-and-out mistakes, there are innumerable odd legend variants.

This lot is sold to benefit the Collier Prize in Ancient Numismatics offered by the American Numismatic Society.