Obverse: DIVI F IMP CAESAR, bareheaded bust of Augustus right Reverse: A PLAVTIVS PRO COS, temple of Aphrodite at Paphos and courtyard Struck ~21 BC at Paphos, Cyprus, 15mm, 3.5g, RPC 3906 I’ve had this one a while, and I’ve hesitated to post it because mine is not especially well preserved (a better one can be viewed at Wildwinds), but the fascinating imagery won out. At first glance it’s a little difficult to figure out what you’re looking at, but historical and archaeological context tells us that it is a temple to a rather unique deity. @Andres2's thread on ancients on stamps shows a coin of Trajan depicting the same shrine. The Temple of Aphrodite at Paphos was a place of some renown, the existence of which likely predated its identification with Aphrodite. The Aphrodite worshipped at this temple was that abstract shape we see at the center of the coin, which was actually a conical stone. Some say it is a meteorite, but this appears to be erroneous. The stone still exists today, and is housed in a museum near the ruins of the sanctuary. By some accounts, a thick crust of libation oils causes its blackened appearance, and interestingly enough Homer describes the anointing of Aphrodite's shrine at Paphos in The Odyssey. Tacitus recorded a visit of Titus to the temple, who was curious to see the unusual shrine there. Even though the stone was identified with Aphrodite, it reminded me of Elagabalus and his stone, and indeed some sources suggest a Syrian or Phoenician origin for the cult at Paphos. Regardless of its origins, I think it’s amazing that it’s still there, and it certainly makes for a unique representation of a local deity on provincial coinage. I was able to find a few other varieties showing this temple by searching here and Wildwinds, and I’d love to see any other examples of related coins.
Seems several times the ancient world connected stones with the divine. Here is my only coin featuring a stone: Antiochos I Soter, Seleucid Kings of Syria; 281-261 BC Æ, 16mm, 4.01 g; 3h; Antioch mint Obv.: Diademed head right Rev.: Apollo Delphios seated left on the Omphalos of Delphi holding bow and examing arrow; monograms to left and right The Omphalos of Delphi can still be seen today.
kool... i've bid on divine stone coins, but so far i haven't got any...whenever i see a divine stone i always think of Elagal meself..plus now of course of @TIF "s lil doodad....
Ancient coins depicting various sacred stones would be an interesting set to collect. Here's a webpage devoted to them: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/baetyl_coins.html That page is part of a larger site hosted by Forum Ancient Coins, called "What I Like About Ancient Coins" and it is the handiwork of Bill Welch. I don't think I've met Bill but if he is a CoinTalk member or lurker I want to say thank you for such an interesting and fun ancient coin website! As for sacred stones or baetyls, I have a few, with many more on the perpetual "get one" list. Elagabalus AR denarius, 19.4 mm, 3.5 gm Antioch, CE 218-219 Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Rev: SANCT DEO SOLI / ELAGABAL, Quadriga right, bearing sacred baetyl of Emesa, flanked by four parasols Ref: RIC IV 195 https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-a-boy-and-his-stone.254886/ PHOENICIA, Tyre. Trebonianus Gallus CE 251-253 Æ dichalkon, 25 mm, 13.39 gm, 6h Obv: IMP C C VIBIVS TREBO GALLVS AVG; laureate and draped bust right Rev: COL TYRO METR[O?]; serpent-entwined baetyl; murex shell to left, palm tree to right Ref: RPC IX online 1961; Rouvier 2476; Babelon 2296; AUB –; BMC –. SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Emesa. Antoninus Pius AD 138-161 Æ24, 12.06 gm, 11h Obv: Laureate head right Rev: Eagle, holding wreath in beak, standing right, head left, on baetyl of El-Gabal Ref: SNG Copenhagen 309 (Γ in right field of rev.); SNG München 811 var. (Є in right field of rev.); BMC 1-7 (various letters on rev.)
Amazing coins in this thread including @TIF and @SeptimusT 's coins. Don't have any coins depicting a sacred stone yet, but I'll keep my eyes open for one.
