In Serapis We Trust Nero - Roman Provinical Egypt Tetradrachm - Serapis Radiate head right NEPO KLAY KAIS SEB GEP (Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) Draped bust of Serapis right, date LI (year 10) right AYTO KPA (Emperor) Struck: AD 64, Alexandria Mint Size: 24.0mm Weight: 12.07gm Catalog: Milne 222 Trajan - Provincial Billon Tetradrachm - Alexandria Egypt - Serapis Laureate head right, star to right AYT TPAIAN API - CEB GEPM DAKIK (Emperor Trajan API Augustus Germanicus Dacius) Serapis right, date LI - H in fields (year 18) Struck: AD 114-115, Alexandria Size: 25mm Weight: 12.95gm Catalog: Milne 726 Antoninus Pius - Provincial Billon Tetradrachm - Alexandria Egypt - Serapis Obverse: Laureate head right CEB EYCEB ANTONIN (Augustus Pius Antoninus) Reverse: Bust of Serapis right, wearing taenia, L - H across fields (year 8) Struck: AD 144-145 Size: 25mm Weight: 14.30gm Catalog: Milne 1782 Serapis was a Greek-Egyptian god invented by the Ptolemy I, around the time of Alexander the Great. He wears a modius on his head, a grain-basket.
Here is the image of my lone Serapis. It is a Titus Billon Tetradrachm from Alexandria, Year 2 (79-80 AD) OBV: AVTOK TITOY - laureate head right REV: Bust of Serapis right, LB before 12.7g, 25mm
Here's some more obscure Serapis types: EGYPT, Arsinoe (Krokodilopolis) PB Tessera. (25mm, 7.23 g) Head of Pharoah right Serapis seated left on throne, holding scepter Milne 5442 (Fayûm class); Dattari (Savio) -; Köln 3614 Ex Classical Numismatic Group E238, lot 295. Milne gives this type to an uncertain city in the Fayûm. Considering the thematic and stylistic similarities with the named piece of Arsinoe, an attribution to this city is possible. However, I still need to research what connection Serapis could have with this city. ROME Æ Tessera (12mm, 0.70 g, 7 h) Crescent and stars series Draped bust of Serapis right, wearing calathus Three stars over crescent Cf. VAuctions 270, otherwise unpublished.
Fantastic coins all. I own one of these "accidentally", obtaining one in a lot. I hadn't gotten around to reading more about it yet. Mine looks like WillieBoyd's examples. So Serapis was invented by Ptolemy? Anyone know the reason why? The only thing I could think of would be to bring the two cultures together, since the Greek's were foreigners ruling there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serapis 'Serapis or Sarapis was a Graeco-Egyptian god. He was invented during the 3rd century BC on the orders of Ptolemy I of Egypt as a means to unify the Greeks and Egyptians in his realm" I think its neat not only the combination of Hades and Osiris, but Cerberus and Anubis
