ISLANDS OFF ELIS, Kephallenia. Kephallenia. C. Proculeius, circa 30-28 BC. (Bronze, 22,2 mm, 5.87 g, 9h). Terminal bust of Jupiter to right; behind his neck, monogram. Rev. [C PROCVLEI L F] Skate fish

Roman Provincial

ISLANDS OFF ELIS, Kephallenia. Kephallenia. C. Proculeius, circa 30-28 BC. (Bronze, 22,2 mm, 5.87 g, 9h). Terminal bust of Jupiter to right; behind his neck, monogram. Rev. [C PROCVLEI L F] Skate fish. BMC 65 (as Kranion). RPC I 1359 (town of Kephallenia). Very rare and with an unusual reverse depiction.This coin, which also originates from the "de Guermantes" collection, is extremely rare: 35 specimens are recorded in the RPC catalogue—all but three held in museums, and most deriving from long-standing finds. Lucius Proculeius was an *eques* and a close friend of Octavian, evidently carrying out various missions for him following the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. The reason for minting these coins is not entirely clear, but they were likely issued in connection with the demobilization of a large part of Octavian’s fleet after his victory over Antony and Cleopatra; the island of Cephalonia—located near Elis in the Peloponnese—would have been a suitable site for this process. Good Very fine. Extremely Rare