On this cold wintry evening, I unboxed this Vespasian Alexandrian diobol featuring the Egyptian goddess Isis. A good night to stay inside coining. Vespasian Æ Diobol, 10.50g Alexandria mint, 73-74 AD Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΟΥΕΣΠΑΣΙΑΝΟΥ; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: LϚ; Bust of Isis, r. RPC 2442 (31 spec.). Emmett 217.6. Dattari-Savio 385. Acquired from Aegean Numismatics, December 2021. This very common diobol struck in Vespasian's sixth regnal year features a bust of the goddess Isis wearing a headdress of cow horns enclosing a sun disk. The cult of Isis was very popular during the First Century and was given a particular boost by the Flavians, likely owing to Vespasian's lengthy sojourn in Alexandria prior to his arrival in Rome. Tellingly, Vespasian and Titus's joint triumphal procession of 71 at Rome started at the Temple of Isis where they had spent the night, a good indication of how important the Isis cult was to the Flavians. I think it's no accident this ethnic type was chosen as a standard reverse design for Vespasian's Alexandrian bronzes. Please share you coins featuring Isis! Thanks for looking!
Nice one, David! Good flan shape, clear portraits. Here's one on an unusually thin and light flan: EGYPT, Alexandria. Vespasian year 4, CE 71/2 diobol?, 25.4 mm, 5.45 gm Obv: AVTOKKAIΣΣEBAOVEΣΠAΣIANOV; laureate head right Rev: bust of Isis left; LΔ in right field Ref: Emmett 217.4 (diobol) A more typical diobol weight and thickness: EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian Year 9, CE 89/90 AE diobol, 25 mm, 9.13 gm Obv: laureate bust right Rev: bust of Isis right Ref: Dattari-Savio Pl 19, 6747 (this coin); Geissen 329; Emmett 296.9, R5 ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)
(looks better in hand) My best Isis is Ptolemaic Ptolemy V Epiphanes AE 29 mm, 19.80 g (205-180 BC) Obv.: head of Isis right Rev.: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ , eagle standing left on thunderbolt there is also Isis' headdress (but it's Seleucid) : Seleucid, Antiochus VII (138-129 BC), AE 18 mm, 5.80 g. Antioch, 137 BC. Obv: Winged bust of Eros right. Rev: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY, Isis headdress, monogram to outer left, below, crescent above EoP (175 sel. = 137 BC)
Nice one, David. Mine is an Otho. OTHO AE Diobol. 7.87g, 25.3mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 1 (AD 69). Dattari (Savio) 334; Emmett 190.1; K&G 18.14; RPC I 5368. O: [ΑΥΤΟΚ Μ]ΑΡΚ ΟΘΩΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣ [ΣΕΒ], laureate head right. R: [L A], draped bust of Isis to right, wearing headdress. Ex Rhakotis Collection
Cool coin, @David Atherton! Looks chunky! Here are some coins depicting Mighty Isis. Claudius II Gothicus, AD 268-270. Roman billon antoninianus, 4.07 g, 22.4 mm, 5 h. Antioch, officina 5, issue 1, end 268-end 269. Obv: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: SALVS AVG, Isis standing left, holding sistrum and situla; Є in exergue. Refs: RIC 217A; MER/RIC temp 1024; Cohen 256; RCV 11370; Huvelin 1990, 10; Normanby 1109. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.61 g, 17.7 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 196-202. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: SAECVLI FELICITAS, Isis, wearing polos, standing right, foot on prow(?) (stool?), holding wreath and infant Horus; behind them, a ship’s rudder leans against an altar. Refs: RIC 577; BMCRE 75-82; Hill 504; Cohen 174; RCV 6606. Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 205 BC-180 BC AE hemidrachm, 18.84 g; 28.4 mm Alexandria, ca. 197-183/2 BC Obv: Corn-wreathed head of Isis, right Rev: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle standing on winged thunderbolt, left Refs: Svoronos 1235; Sear Greek 7880; BMCG 6.94,72; SNG VIII (Hart) 1175; Forrer 80. Annia Faustina, 3rd wife of Elagabalus, Augusta, 221 CE. Isinda, Pisidia; AE 25.0 mm, 8.55 gm Obv: ANNIAN FAVCTEINAN, Dr. bust of Faustina r. Rev: Confronted heads of Serapis and Isis, in field, E-Delta (yr. 4 ). Refs: Ex Lindgren I A1322A, ex von Aulock, Pisidia I 833 (Plate coin for both references).
