Picked up this interesting Asklepios bronze coin from Pergamon, first snake added to my collection! Mysia, Pergamon. Asklepios bronze coin. (133–27 B.C.) Obverse: Laureate head of Asklepios right Reverse: Serpent entwined around staff of Asklepios. ΑΣΚΛΗΠΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ. Reference: SNG von Aulock 1373, SNG Cop. 370-376. The Asklepieia (healing temple) in Pergamon was founded in the first half of the 4th Century BC around a sacred spring that still flows. According to ancient myth, the god Asklepios had the power to raise people from the dead and he himself was restored to life by Zeus. For this reason he was thought to also have a snake form. Tame snakes were kept in his temples as this reptile was regarded as a symbol of regeneration, due to the shedding and regrowth of their skin. Patients approached the healing temple via the Sacred Way, a path that started their journey to health. An underground passage led to it so that the patients went down a short flight of steps into a tunnel: cubicles were located on either side of the passage and patients spent the night there. In the morning, they would tell their dreams to the priests to facilitate the diagnosis of their disease. The patients then ascended to the temple, which had a circular shape so that they could walk in a never ending procession; the pillars supporting the vaults had individual tubs for bathing. Treatments included psychotherapy, massage, herbal remedies, mud and bathing treatments, surgeries and the drinking of water, which were prescribed according to what dreams the patient had experienced. It was believed that dreams recounted a visit by the god Asklepios, who held the key to curing all illness. Post your Asklepios coins here!
Nice coin Pavlos. Love the snakes! Curious on the size? Here is a crude little coin but unusual and only a few dollars. Below is a better example from online photo: Thrace, Ainos. Circa 200-150 BC. Obverse: Bare headed and draped bust of Hermes right, kerykeion over left shoulder. Reverse: Asklepios standing left, holding serpent-staff, AIN-IWN around. AMNG Thrakien, p. 199: 405a, Weber, NC 1892, p. 188, 5 and pl. 15, 4 Very Rare. Size: 19mm, 4.66g. Professional Numismatic Notes: A very rare type featuring two Greek deities of healing! Thrace, Ainos, 18mm, 4.39g. Obv: bare-headed and draped bust of Hermes right, caduceus behind. Rev: AINIWN, Asklepios standing left, resting on serpent-entwined staff. Moushmov 3876. Contributed by Andreas Reich of the Forvm Ancient Coins, Sept. 2010 (from Wildwinds I think)
Wonderful coin, Pavlos, and nice briefing on the Asklepieian activities! Caracalla was a supplicant of Asklepios, reportedly beseeching the god to cure his illness. The exact nature of his illness is unknown but sounds mental. Cassius Dio recorded these speculations in Roman History, book LXXVIII, 15.3-7. "For he was sick not only in body, partly from visible partly from secret ailments, but in mind as well, suffering from certain distressing visions, and often he thought he was being pursued by his father and by his brother, armed with swords." Dio opines that the gods were not impressed by his offerings, judging Caracalla by his deeds rather than his gifts. "This showed most clearly that they regarded, not his votive offerings or his sacrifices, but only his purposes and his deeds. He received no help from Apollo Grannus, nor yet from Aesculapius or Serapis, in spite of his many supplications and his unwearying persistence. For even while abroad he sent to them prayers, sacrifices and votive offerings, and many couriers ran hither and thither every day carrying something of this kind; and he also went to them himself, hoping to prevail by appearing in person, and did all that devotees are wont to do; but he obtained nothing that contributed to health." 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
Here's my po boy edition (I need to twist the reverse 35 degrees): SICILY. Syracuse. Ae (Late 2nd-early 1st century BCE). Obv: Laureate head of Asklepios right. Rev: ΣYPAKOΣIΩN. Staff entwined with serpent. HGC 2, 1529. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 2.13 g. Diameter: 13 mm.
Nice pickup, Pavlos. I like that it has a really clear snake on it. MYSIA, Pergamon AE20. 8.18g, 20mm. MYSIA, Pergamon, 190-133 BC. BMC 161. O: Laureate head of Asklepios right. R: AΣKΛHΠIOY ΣΩTHPOΣ, Serpent of Asklepios coiled around omphalos; c/m, owl standing.
Nice one, @Pavlos ! You might be interested in this write-up I did about the snakes of Asklepios. I have a coin like yours: Mysia, Pergamon, ca. 133-27 B.C. Greek Æ dichalkon, 16.4 mm, 3.74 g, 2 h. Obv: Laureate head of Asklepios right. Rev: AΣKΛHPIOY ΣΩTHPOΣ, serpent-entwined staff. Refs: BMC 154-157; SNG Cop 368 ff; SNG France 1828-48; SNG von Aulock 1373. Here are a couple more Asklepios/Aesculapius coins: Gordian and Tranquillina. Roman provincial AE 26.4 mm, 12.98 g. Thrace, Anchialus, AD 241. Obv: Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ-[...], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian and draped bust of Tranquillina, wearing stephane, confronted. Rev: ΟVΛΠΑΝW[ΑΝ]ΧΙΑΛΕWΝ, Asklepios standing facing, head left, with serpent climbing staff to left. Refs: Moushmov 2936; AMGN II 665; Varbanov 672; SNG Cop --; BMC Thrace --. Septimius Severus, AD 193-211. Roman provincial AE 20.5 mm, 5.63 gm. Bithynia, Nicaea, AD 193-211. Obv: ΑΥ ΚΛ CЄΠ CЄΥΗΡΟC CЄB, laureate head, right. Rev: ΝΙΚΑΙЄΩΝ, Asklepios standing facing, head left, holding serpent-staff. Ref: Waddington Recueil général 333, citing a retouched specimen in Milan, AE 21 with illegible obverse legend.
I love it and the references from Dio. Here are mine (regulars have seen before): Caracalla, AD 198-217 AE30, 14.9g, 7h; Thrace, Pautalia. Obv.: AVT K MAVP CEV ANTONEINOC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: OVΛΠIAC ΠAVTAΛIAC, Asklepios standing front, looking left, leaning on serpent-entwined staff. Gallienus, AD 260-268 AE Antoninianus, 1.9g, 18x22mm, 6h; Milan mint, 265-266. Obv.: IMP GALLIENVS AVG; Radiate, draped bust right. Rev.: SALVS AVG; Asclepius, naked to waist, standing front, head turned left, right hand on hip, left hand resting on serpent-entwined staff // MP I have a few coins with Salus feeding a serpent and a couple coins with a bearded serpent as well.
Here's my latest Asklepios: Severus Alexander, AD 222-235. Roman Provincial Æ 27 mm, 8.78 g, 6 h. Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior, Legate Um. Tereventinus, AD 226-227. Obv: AVT K M AVP CEVH AΛEZANΔPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: HΓ ȢM TEPEBENTINOV MAPKIANOΠOΛIT-ΩN, Asklepios standing facing, head left, holding serpent staff. Refs: AMNG I 1027; Moushmov 696; Varbanov 1685 corr. (obv. legend) (same dies).
Thracia, Augusta Trajana, Lucius Verus, AD 161-169 AE 19, 4.66g, 18.81mm, 225° obv. AV KAI Λ AV - PH OVHPOC bare head, r. rev. AVΓOVCTHC - TPAIANHC Asklepios, wearing himation, stg. l., resting with raised r. hand on sceptre entwined by snake ref. Varbanov 899 (cites Schönert-Geiß 90 (1 ex.)) rare, F+ nearly black Patina Unusual depiction of Asklepios with snake-entwined sceptre.
Moesia inferior, Markianopolis, Macrinus & Diadumenian, AD 217-218 AE 28, 13.51g, 28.47mm, 30° struck under governor Furius Pontianus obv. AV K OΠEΛ CEV MAKPINOC K M OΠEΛ ANTΩNEINOC Confronted busts of Macrinus, draped and cuirassed, seen from behind, laureate, r., and Diadumenian, draped and cuirassed, seen from behind, bare- headed, l. rev. VΠ ΠONTIAN - OV MAPKIANOΠO / ΛITΩN Unbearded youthfull Asklepios, wearing himation with nude l. shoulder, stg. facing, head turned l., snake-entwined staff under his r. armpit ref. a) AMNG I/1, 745, pl. XVII, 5 (2 ex., Löbbecke, Sophia) b) Varbanov (engl.) 1252 c) Hristova/Jekov (2013) No. 6.24.20.3 (plate coin) rare, VF+, dark-green Patina The statues from Skopas and Kalamis have shown a youthful Asklepios too!
Mysia, Pergamon, BMC 158 AE 19, 8.31g, 18..9mm, 0° struck 200-133 BC obv. Head of Asklepios, laureate, r. rev. in r. and l. field each from top to bottom AΣKΛHΠIOV - ΣWTHPOΣ Asklepian snake coiled around omphalos covered with agrenon, head r. ref. BMC Mysia p.129, 158; SNG France 1803ff.; SNG von Aulock 1372; not in SNG Copenhagen about EF, nice dark green patina, small edge crack The portrait of Asklepios is taken from the famous Asklepios statue made by Phyromachos. The agrenon was made of woolen garlands which covered netlike the omphalos
Maximus, Caesar. 235-238 AD. THRACE, Deultum. Æ (24mm, 6.44 gm, 1h). Obv: Draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Rev: Asklepios standing facing, head left, holding serpent staff. Varbanov 2451(R5) (var-this example has draped and cuirassed bust right. Unlisted?
One of my nicest Caracalla denars: Caracalla,AD 198-217 AR - Denar, 3.30g, 20.3mm Rome, AD 215 obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM Laureate head r. rev. P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P Aesculapius, in himation stg. facing, resting with r. hand on snake staff, l. hand across body, wrapped in fold of drapery; at his feet r. globe, l. smsll hooded figure (Telesphorus), stg. frontal, hands on his breast ref. RIC IV/1, 253 var.; C.307; BMC 105 MS, lustrous RIC has listed this type only with Aesculapius head l.
Severus Alexander. 222-235 A.D.; Æ 30, and of medallic style! Kotiaeon/Cotiaeum, Phrygia. Obv: M AVP CΕVΗΑΛΕΧΑΝΔΡΟ-C AVΓ. His bust left with imperial mantle, holding scepter in l. hand, which slants over his left shoulder, and raising right hand (in greeting?). Rev: ΕΠΙΠΑΙΛΕΡΜΑΦΙΛΟΥ APXONTOC; "A" in upper center field; in exergue:KOTIAEΩ(N). Asklepios standing facing, head toward Hygieia. A small Telesphoros between them; the "N" from the exergue over his head. SNG Tubingen 4111. Tubingen states "Unpublizierte Variante?" - Unpublished Variant? This, then, is probably the second know example of this coin! BMC__; von Aulock__; Mionnet__; SNG Cop__. aEF; probably three grades superior to the Tubingen example. Finest known specimen?