Struck at Antioch under Maximinus II Daia, the reverse of this coin has Sol standing and holding the head of Serapis with his left hand. The latter was a god venerated by the Egyptians and The Greeks,I think. So I wonder what significance does it bear to hold his head by another Roman god (Sol). It weighs 6.4 g. Ric VI- 154 c.
Here's Genius holding the head of Sol: Maximinus II Daza, AD 309-313, as Augustus. Roman Æ follis, 21.4 mm, 4.88 g, 12 h. Antioch, AD 312. Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head, right. Rev: GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding head of Sol and cornucopiae; *|Z //ANT. Refs: RIC 164b; Cohen 21; RCV 14840.
My favourite Licinius Licinius I Coin: Bronze Follis IMP LIC LICINNIVS P F AVG - Laureate head right GENIO AVGVSTI - Genius standing left, holding head of Serapis and cornucopia; palm branch-N-* in left field, wreath-gamma in right field Mint: Alexandria (AD 313) Wt./Size/Axis: 4.10g / 21mm / - References RIC VI Alexandria 162a This is on Wildwinds.
The OP coin has no attribution on Wildwinds. The suggested attribution RIC VI- 154c refers to the same OP coin but with crescent over B in left field, and nothing in right field. As we can see, the OP coin has Epsilon over Delta in left field, and crescent in right field. I don't know where to find that attribution.
Maximin Daia "GENIO AVGVSTI" type. Genius holding Serapis whose head is topped by a kalathos - Alexandria mint.
I believe Serapis, according to the mythology, was cut up into many pieces and then resurrected whole again. Thus, his dismembered head is symbolic of rebirth.
