Ancient Rome - 27-26 BCE Augustus (Octavian) AR Cistophorus NGC Choice XF - Sphinx reverse!

Dramatic specimen with original golden-brown patina. NGC Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. 11.98g.

Augustus AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Pergamum mint in Asia Minor, shortly after 27 BC. Obverse presents: IMP•CAESAR, bare head of Augustus to the right, lituus.  The reverse offers: AVGVSTVS, Sphinx seated to the right on ground line. Sources: RIC 527; C. 31; BMC 702; CBN 927; RPC 2204; Sutherland -, group II. 11.58g, 27mm, 1h.

It has been documented by Suetonius, Pliny the Elder, and Dio Cassius that Octavian [later Augustus] adopted the Sphinx as his personal sigil. Its image was engraved on the signet ring he used for his personal seal. This seal of the Sphinx, being impressed upon all personal letters and official documents, became a representation of his authority. Both Pliny and Dio Cassius report that Octavian delegated a duplicate of his ring to his lieutenants Agrippa and Maecenas. In that way, they were empowered with his authority to sign edicts and letters in his absence.

Greek Sphinx from Attica, circa 530 BC. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Sphinx employed by Octavian was of the Greek style, which differed from the earlier Egyptian form in some important ways. Egyptian sphinxes were depicted as male, with the head of a pharaoh. In this appearance, Egyptian sphinxes were guardian spirits associated with the solar divinity Sekhmet. By contrast, the ancient Greek Sphinx had the wings of an eagle and was a singular, enigmatic female creature that specialized in riddles, a violent demon that would strangle and consume travelers.

H. V. Sutherland notes that it is quite likely that the Sphinx presented upon this coin is modelled directly on Augustus' signet ring; the depiction of the sphinx here is solely in the Greek style except for one Roman flourish: the Sphinx's hair style here bears a remarkable similarity to that preferred by Octavia and Livia.