Marble torso of a Roman emperor at Sothebys

Sothebys will auction a marble torso of a Roman emperor from the first half of the 1st century A.D.

The torso represents one of the Julio-Claudian emperors, possibly Augustus. The piece sold for $7,362,500 in 2010, more than six times it's high estimate. Sothebys will put the statue up for auction again in October with an estimate of $8m to $12m.

The bronze breastplate is decorated in relief on the chest with the Sun god Sol emerging from the waters in a frontal quadriga and on the abdomen with two Victories flanking a trophy and hanging shields onto it.

Driving price is rock solid providence. The statue is from the Twin Temples on the northeast corner of the forum of Salona in Dalmatia. It was handed down by family descent.

The Amphitheatre of Salona stood at the northwestern edge of ancient Salona, once the capital of Roman Dalmatia. Built in the second half of the 2nd century AD, the elliptical arena could seat 15,000.