I am a sucker for a mysterious interesting reverse with a nice patina. Is this a snake driven Biga or a hero struggle with the dragon Cetus? I think the emperor is Caracalla although he looks more like Titus or Vespasian but the P-P in the fields on the obverse line up with provincials from Cilicia in the Severan period. Haven't found it anywhere yet. Some RPC expert will probably figure it out with just a glance. . It measures 32 MM and weighs 14.16 Grams
It's ugly and worthless. Send it to me Kidding, of course. I love this type!! The reverse is Triptolemos driving a biga of serpents. Here's a high-grade example from CNG's archives: Sale: Nomos 6, Lot: 178. Estimate CHF950. Closing Date: Monday, 7 May 2012. Sold For CHF950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. Tarsus, Cilicia. Caracalla. 198-217. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 31mm, 16.26 g 6), c. 214-217. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ Μ ΑΥΡ CΕΥΗΡ[ΟC ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC] CΕΒ Π Π Laureate and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑΝΗC CΕΟΥΗΡ....... ΤΑΡCΟΥ ΜΚΑ /ΓΒ Triptolemos, sowing grain with his right hand and holding a grain sack in his left, standing right in car drawn by two serpents to right. SNG Levante 1049 (this coin). SNG Paris 1509-1510 (same obverse die). A rare and most interesting piece of fine style. Dark green patina. Good very fine. From the M Collection, and from the collection of E. Levante, Triton VII, 12 January 2004, 803.
Snakemobile pile-on!! EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius year 14, CE 150/1 AE drachm, 34 mm, 28.8 gm Obv: Laureate bust of Antoninus Pius left Rev: Triptolemos driving biga of winged serpents right; L IΔ above Ref: Emmett 1683.14 ATTICA, Athens. Eleusis mint Eleusinian festival coinage 340-335 BC AE16 Obv: Triptolemos, seated left in a winged chariot drawn by two snakes Rev: Pig standing right on mystic staff, (bucranium below?) Ref: SNG Cop 415 From CNG's archives: The obverse is inspired by a statue of Triptolemos that was presumably still in its temple when Pausanias (I. 38, 6) visited Eleusis in about AD 160: “The Eleusians have a temple to Triptolemos... They say that the plain called Rharion was the first to be sown and the first to grow crops... Here is shown a threshing floor and altar. My dream forbade the description of the things within the wall of the sanctuary, and the uninitiated are of course not permitted to learn that which they are prevented from seeing.” A single-engine snakemobile: THRACE, Pautalia. Caracalla CE 198-217 AE29, 16.4 gm Obv: AYT K M AY CEY ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Asklepios seated right on back of winged serpent Ref: Varbanov 5007
As I am studied up a little now on Triptolemos, I wonder if the provincial creators of this coin were making a secret statement whose meaning would only be privy to initiates in the Eleusian mysteries. Which implies what might happen to an emperor who as the Triptolemos in the Biga is sowing seeds of discard, mayhem and tyranny? Were they honoring him or cursing him without him really knowing? Where might those winged serpent dragons bring the soul of the sower? Just a thought that there may be more behind a coin like this.
