Bring me the head of Serapis!!

Our @Eng here calls this the 'Head on a platter' look, and I can think of no better name for the type.

The variety with Genius holding the head of Sol was the first Tetrarchic period coin I bought, so naturally, the one with the head of Serapis has been on my want list. A recent auction served up this example to me... on a platter, so to speak .

Do feel free to share your coins showing Serapis, even if it's just his head.


MAXIMINUS II DAIA
AE Follis
5.1g, 21mm
Alexandria mint, AD 312-313
RIC 160b
O: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right.
R: GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, holding head of Serapis in right hand, cornucopia in left; star, N and palm-branch in left field, gamma in right, ALE in exergue.

And the Sol companion piece...

MAXIMINUS II DAIA
AE Follis
4.65g, 21mm
Antioch mint, 309-313 AD
RIC 164b
O: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right.
R: GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, holding head of Sol in right hand, cornucopia in left; star and Z in field, ANT in exergue.
Ex Phillip Davis Collection

 

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Beautiful additions, congrats.

 

Great coins. At one point, I did some some research as to why you find Genius holding heads of Sol or Serapis on the coinage. There don't seem to be any corollary portrayals in statuary or frescoes. I came up empty-handed. It's apparently a motif unique to the coinage of the various Tetrachies.

 

Zumbly, thanks for clearing up the head identity. I have a Max II DAIA from Alexandra similar to your example and always wondered whose head that might be.

 

Outstanding for both.

 

I love that reverse type! Awesome coin zumbly.

 

My example is Licinius I like the colours. This is on Wildwinds.




Licinius I
Coin: Bronze Follis
IMP LIC LICINNIVS P F AVG - Laureate head right
GENIO AVGVSTI - Genius standing left, holding head of Serapis and cornucopia; palm branch-N-* in left field, wreath-gamma in right field
Mint: Alexandria (AD 313)
Wt./Size/Axis: 4.10g / 21mm / -
References:

• RIC VI Alexandria 162a

 

man, those details are sharp as a tack Z.

here is a alexandrian tet of maximian, reverse show alexandria with serapis....or his head anyway.

 

Wonderful 'head on a platter' types, regardless of whose head it actually depicts!! lol

I'm still in the 'hunt' for those types.....but I may have won an example of a 'Serapis' during the last few months---I certainly bid on more than a few. I'll have to double check if a 'budget' example slipped through.

 

Wow, Z. Those are magnificent.

 

Thanks for the coinpliments, everyone.

@Pishpash - love the colours on your coin, too!

 

The details on these coins are awesome Z, the hair lines, the fields, way cool. love the series, many different types. Wow!!

Philip l246/247 AD.
Ae, Tet.
Alexandria standing, holding head of Serapis.


I think they are talking to each other..

 

Wow, there are bunches of desirable coins in this thread! I want one .

 

Yeah, me too !!!!

 

Here's my Sol...


Do you tell the difference by the crown?

 

Yes. Sol is radiate, Serapis sports a modius.

 

Probus, Billon tetradrachm
Obv:– A K M AVR PROBOC CEB, Laureate draped bust right
Rev:– None, Bust of Serapis right
Minted in Alexandria Egypt. L - E | _ Year 5. A.D. 279-280
Reference:– Milne 4605. Curtis X-1889, Emmett 3993(5) R4. BMC -. Dattari 5544

A rare type for Probus

 

I can't recall ever seeing an example of that type of Probus...That's a fantastic find Martin!!!

 

Maximinus II Daia - Follis
Obv:– IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, Laureate head right
Rev:– GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius, naked but for chlamys fastened at his right shoulder and hanging from his left shoulder, standing facing, head left, wearing modius, holding head of Serapis, which faces him, in right hand and ornate cornucopia in left arm behind
Minted in Alexandria (* / N / Branch | B / ALE).
Reference:– RIC VI Alexandria 160b