Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: The Museum Year 2009
The Year
Acquisitions
Art of the Ancient World: July 2008–June 2009
Aureus with head of Octavian
about 32–29 B.C.
Diameter: 20 mm. Weight: 7.71 gm. Die Axis: 5
Gold
Classification: Numismatics
Culture: Roman
Mint: Rome or Brundisium, Italy
Period: Late Republican Period
Accession number: 2009.2219
Location: Michael C. Ruettgers Gallery of Ancient Coins
Description: Obverse: head of Octavian, bare-headed, to the right Reverse: Victory riding in biga, holding wreath in right hand, palm and reins in left hand; in exergue: CAESAR DIVI F
Provenance/Ownership History: By date unknown: with Fr. Thilo-Schmidt, Zurich, Switzerland; 1908: privately purchased from Fr. Thilo-Schmidt by Arthur Bally-Herzog (1849-1912); 1908-2003: Arthur Bally-Herzog Collection, Switzerland and by descent: by 2003: with Münzen und Medaillen A.G., Malzgasse 25, Basel, Switzerland (Auction 93 [Sammlung Arthur Bally-Herzog], December 16, 2003, lot 75); by 2009: with Numismatica Ars Classica, Niederdorfstrasse 43 CH 8022, Zürich, Switzerland (Auction 51 [Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Coins], Hotel Baur au Lac, Talstrasse 1, 8022 Zürich, March 5, 2009, lot 133); purchased at NAC 51 on behalf of MFA by Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 31 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602; March 25, 2009: purchased by MFA from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
Theodora Wilbour Fund in memory of Zoë Wilbour