NEWP: Diadumenian, Deultum, Telesphoros

Here's an exceedingly rare issue of Diadumenian from Deultum.

Telesphoros was likely a Celtic god adopted into the Roman pantheon as the son of Asclepius, the god of medicine. His name means "the accomplisher" in Greek, and he is frequently found in the company of his sister Hygieia. A limestone statue of Telesphoros, source...



I can't seem to find much on this obscure little god. It would be nice, for instance, to discover a clue as to how a hooded dwarf became associated with healing. Telesphoros is a very scarce figure on Roman provincials. This coin crosses over into the realm of rarities on account of Diadumenian's very brief reign, as Caesar under his father Macrinus (May 217-218), and as Augustus in 218. (The Syrian legions erased them both from history after they elevated Elagabalus.)



Diadumenian, Thrace, Deultum, AD 218 AE 18
Obv.: M OPEL ANTONINVS DIADV C, draped bust right.
Rev.: C F P D, Telesphoros standing facing in hooded cloak.
Reference: Yurukova 88, SNG Bulgaria 239-240.

I found only two examples of this coin on the web, at Wildwinds, and a Gorny and Mosch auction, 108, lot 1445. The G-M coin is a die match to mine...



Note also that this is a provincial coin with Roman lettering.

 

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I have this to share....

http://www.innominatesociety.com/Articles/Telesphoros Son of Asklepios.htm

it was pointed out to me many moons ago by Kurt.

 

Geta, AE18 of Nicaea, Bithynia. 2.38g.

L CEPT GETAC K, bare-headed, draped bust right,
NIKAIEWN, Telesphoros standing facing, wearing
hooded cloak.


Here is my Geta

 

Hey, thanks AN! That gives me my reading for the day.

 

What a great coin, nice catch, JA. Some interesting types seem to come out of Deultum.

 

Really nice coin JA, awesome green to the piece.

 

Very cool, would love it myself.

 

Really a neat coin.

 

I love that coin JA...my only type is a much more modest and uninteresting variety....but it fills a 'hole' in the Emperor category----I'd much rather have yours!!!

 

THAT LITTLE GUY IS AWESOME!
that's an awesome coin, wicked green color, diadumenian and the little dude make for an interesting coin for sure!

 

nice


MYSIA, Pergamum Hadrian AE 16 Telesphoros standing

Reference.
SNG France 2093

Obv. AYT KAI NER TR ADRIA
Laureate head right.

Rev. ΠEPΓAM KAKEΦ TOB on left in feild.
Telesphoros standing facing, wrapped in long garments.

3.26 gr
16 mm

 

MYSIA, Pergamum Hadrian AE 30 Zeus standing
Obv.
Laureate bust right, seen from front
Countermarks.
a wreath (Howgego 480).
a helmeted bust of Athena right (Howgego 185).


Rev.
Zeus standing facing
Countermark.
Telesphoros/telesphorus (Howgego, Greek Imperial Countermarks, 267)

15.67 gr


also used as countermarks

 

Great oki! I didn't know there was a Telesphoros countermark.

 

+1

 

Thanks for the great, informative post.

 

Oh, Roman lettering. Was it Latin or Italian?

 

Nice coins!

 

Welcome Orfew. I like your avatar.

 

Hmmm, 'Orfew', you have my OTHO !!!

Welcome!!!!!......I hope you enjoy being here as much as I have...I started back around the beginning of the year.....

 

I almost bid on that Deultum but something told m that I had enough coins and I did not need this one. Good thing we did not bump heads on it.