MYSIA. Pitane. Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 18 mm, 4.48 g, 1 h), P. Cornelius Scipio, proconsul, circa 8-7 BC. ϹЄΒΑϹΤΟΝ ΠΙΤΑΝΑΙΟΙ Laureate head of Augustus to right. Rev. Π ϹΚΙΠΙⲰΝΑ Bare head of P. Cornelius Scipio to right; in field to right, horned head of Zeus Ammon facing slightly to left above pentagram. Plankenhorn, Mysien, p. 153, 23 (this coin). RPC I 2392. SNG Paris 2370-2. Very rare and of great historical interest. Very minor deposits, otherwise, good fine.


There is some debate about Scipio's ancestry, since the last securely documented members of the famous Cornelii Scipiones - the family of such famous Republican figures as Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236/5-183 BC) and Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Aemilianus (185-129 BC) - were Pompey's general, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio (circa 95-46 BC), and his daughter, Cornelia Metella (circa 73-after 48 BC). Perhaps our Scipio was a grandson of the imperatorial general, but we know nothing explicit about his relatives, and thus this is just one of several suggestions. What we do know is that our Scipio held the consulship in 16 BC and served as proconsul of Asia in 8-7 BC, which is when our coin was struck. It is one of the latest coins to show a Roman aristocrat who was not a member of the imperial domus.