Provenance Information

1995, private collection; July 5, 1995, anonymous (private collection) sale, Sotheby’s, London, lot 154. 2002, private collection, Europe; December 5, 2002, anonymous sale (Auction 24; “property of a European Nobleman”), Numismatica Ars Classica, Zürich, lot 176. 2002 or 2003, purchased by Michael C. Ruettgers, Carlisle, MA; 2009: gift of Michael C. Ruettgers to the MFA (Accession Date: June 17, 2009)

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

X. Calicò, The Roman Aurei (Barcelona, 2003), p. 583, no. 3290.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

The date and circumstances of the coin’s discovery are not known. Gold coins of this type, while struck at Rome, circulated widely and have been found within the present-day borders of many countries. Per the MFA’s 2006 agreement with the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Museum contacted Ministry representatives prior to acquiring the coin; the Ministry raised no objection to the acquisition.