Featured A Phrygian Cornucopia

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Sulla80, Sep 6, 2020.

  1. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    This year continues to bring more coins of Asia Minor than Roman republic to my collection. Today a coin from Phrygia, Laodikeia - also spelled Laodicea, on the western edge of modern Turkey on the river Lycus, not Loadicea ad Mare, today a port city in Syria called Latakia.
    Laodicea Aphrodite.jpg
    Phrygia, Laodikeia, 133/88-67 BC
    Obv: Diademed and draped bust of Aphrodite or the foundress Laodice right
    Rev: Filleted cornucopia to right; filleted kerykeion to left
    Size: 20mm, 6.55g
    Ref: BMC 40-4, SNG Copenhagen 501-2

    There are several variations of this coins with single and double cornucopiae, with and without kerykeion (the Greek name for the staff of Hermes that Romans would have called a caduceus). Laodicea was founded by Antiochus II Theos in 261-253 BC in honor of his sister/wife Laodice. It was part of Roman Asia minor when this coin was minted and a thriving city during the later years of the Roman republic. During the period in which this coin is attributed, the city also suffered through the Mithridatic war (of course a Sulla connection).

    He [Mithridates] overran the rest of Phrygia, together with Mysia and those parts of Asia which had been lately acquired by the Romans. Then he sent his officers to the adjoining provinces and subjugated Lycia, Pamphylia, and the rest as far as Ionia. To the Laodiceans on the river Lycus, who were still resisting (for the Roman general, Quintus Oppius, had arrived with his cavalry and certain mercenaries at their town and was defending it), he made this proclamation by herald before the walls, "King Mithridates promises that the Laodiceans shall suffer no injury if they will deliver Oppius to him."
    -Appian, The Mithridatic Wars

    Quintus Oppius managed to survive after being paraded around by Mithridates, and was eventually surrendered to Sulla.

    Here are a few other favorite Cornucopia coins.
    Sulla Cornucopia.jpg
    L. Cornelius Sulla Felix, as Dictator, AR Denarius
    Italy, 81 BC
    Obv: Diademed head of Venus right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace
    Rev: Filleted double cornucopiae; Q below
    Ref: Crawford 375/2; Sydenham 755; Cornelia
    Note: Marius claimed Apollo as his divine patron, Sulla invoked the goddess Venus and this is why she appears on the obverse of this coin.
    T Carisius Cornucopia.jpg
    T. Carisius, circa 46 BC, AR Denarius
    Obv: Head of Roma right
    Rev: Cornucopiae on globe between sceptre and rudder
    Ref: Crawford 464/3
    [​IMG] Kings of Mauritania, Juba II, 25 BC-AD 24, AR Denarius, Caesarea mint
    Obv: Diademed head right
    Rev: Cornucopia; transverse scepter in background, crescent to upper right

    Post your coins with cornucopiae or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.
     
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2020
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  3. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    Those are all very nice
    g154.jpg
    Demetrios I
    161 to 152 BC
    Mint: Antioch
    AR Drachm
    Obvs: Head of Demetrios right diademed within fillet border.
    Revs: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY ΣΩTHPOΣ, Cornucopia. Two monograms below
    17mm, 4.1g
    Ref: SNG Is. 1285, SC 1642.3b

    g046.jpg
    Antiochos VIII
    Mint: Antioch
    97 BC
    AE 20
    Obvs: Head of Antiochos right radiate within dotted border.
    Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Two cornucopias. PE* to left.
    20mm, 8.8g
    Ref: SNG Isr 2560, SC 2 2312.1a

    g216.jpg
    Aretas IV
    Mint: Petra
    6 BC to 18 AD
    Obvs: Aretas IV head right.
    Revs: Monogram between two crossed cornucopias.
    AE 12x13mm, 2.2g
    cf. SNG ANS 1432, Meshorer 67
     
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  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Nice, @Sulla80 !

    upload_2020-9-6_17-39-30.png
    RR Plaetorius Cest 67 BC AR Den Helmtd Diety quiv cornucopia S-C Eagle tbolt S 349 Cr 409-1 VF
     
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  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    VALENTIA.jpg
    VALENTIA, ROMAN PROVINCIAL
    AE As
    OBVERSE: Helmeted head Roma right, TRINI L F Q before. T AHI T F behind
    REVERSE: Cornucopia on thunderbolt within wreath; VALEN-TIA
    Struck at Valentia, Spain 138 BC
    11.4g, 27mm
    CNH pg. 317, 4; Burgos 2512
    ALEXANDER II ZABINAS.jpg
    ALEXANDER II ZABINAS
    AE22
    OBVERSE: Radiate and diademed head right
    REVERSE: �'ΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝ�"ΡΟΥ, Double cornucopia; A-Π flanking, star to lower left
    Struck at Antioch, Series 5 125-22 BC
    8.2g, 22mm
    SC 2237
    sinope.jpg
    SINOPE, PAPHLAGONIA
    AE16
    OBVERSE: Winged head of young Perseus
    REVERSE: SINW-PHS, cornucopiae between two pilei of the Dioskouroi, each surmounted by a star
    Struck at Sinope, 120-100 BC
    4.09g, 16mm
    SNG Cop 306, SNGvA 231, Sear 3713
    Ex JAZ Numismatics
    L CORNELIUS SULLA FELIX.jpg
    L CORNELIUS SULLA FELIX ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CORNELIA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Diademed head of Venus right
    REVERSE: Double cornucopiae; Q below
    Rome 81 BC
    3.77g, 19mm
    Cr 375/2; Syd 755; Cornelia 33
    Septimius Severus 3.jpg
    SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COSII - Laureate head right
    REVERSE: FELICITAS TEMPOR - Grain ear between crossed cornucopia
    Struck at Emesa, 194-195 AD
    2.3g, 17mm
    RIC 374a
     
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  6. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Nice cornucopias. I have that first one from Phyrgia, but not nearly as nice as the OP:

    Phrygia - Cornucopia caduceus AE  Oct 2019 lot (0).jpg

    Laodikeia, Phrygia Æ 20
    (c. 133/88-67 B.C.)

    Laureate, draped bust of Laodice or Aphrodite right / [Λ]AOΔI[KEΩN], single
    cornucopiae, caduceus behind it.
    Walcher coll. 2789; SNG Cop 501-502; BMC 40-43; SNG Tuebingen 4127; SNG Munich 345-346.
    (5.06 grams / 20 x 17 mm)
     
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  7. ernstk

    ernstk Active Member

    Nice coins. These are undoubtedly authentic.
     
  8. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    LaodiceaPloutos.jpg
    Phrygia, Laodikea/Laodicea ad Lycum. Pseudo-autonomous.
    Time of Antoninus Pius; 138-161 AD. Struck c. 139-147 AD. Æ17 mm; 2.75 gm; 6h. Aelius Dionysius Sabinianus, [Αιλιοσ Διονυσιοσ Cαβινιανοσ] Magistrate. Obv: Bust of Helios r., radiate, wearing chlamys; border of dots. Rev: ΛΑΟΔΙ ΔΙΟΝΥ. Cornucopiae containing corn and fruit, on the bend of the horn sits infant Ploutos, his r. hand raised toward a hanging ear of corn; border of dots. BMC 98 [M.J. Borrell 1845]. Pl. XXXV 8. SNG Cop. 535; F. Imhoof-Blumer, MG 403, no. 116, pl. G, no. 27.
     
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  9. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    @David@PCC, nice trio - cornucopia on the Demetrios is spectacular.

    @Alegandron, the goddesss on the obverse of this coin is fun to see in various attributions; "Isis + Minerva + Apollo + Diana + Victory + Sabine + Vacuna + Tanit + Fortuna" on the obverse. Given your Carthaginian interests you might find this 1989 ANS/AJN article interesting, discussing North African/Punic influence and and Tanit/Cybele reflected on the obverse imagery of this coin, Ba'al-Hammon/Jupiter on the reverse. Here's my Plaetorius - with a cornucopia in front of this unusual deity - and what is that behind, above the quiver - a bow?
    M Plaetorius Caestianus.jpg
    M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus, 67 BC, AR Denarius, Rome mint
    Obv: CESTIANVS - S.C, bust of female deity to right, draped and wearing the helmet of Minerva, the laurel wreath of Apollo, the crown of Isis, the wings of Victory and with the bow and quiver of Diana on her back and with a cornucopia before
    Rev: M PLAET-ORIVS M F - AED - CVR, eagle standing right on thunderbolt, head left, wings spread
    Ref: Crawford 409/1; Sydenham 809; Plaetoria 4

    Thanks Mike, I appreciate seeing another of these in any condition. Given the coin was issued over many years, I wish more could be gleaned from the detail differences.

    @PeteB - Thanks, interesting to see such a similar coin from Laodicea ad Lycum centuries later with radiate Helios in the place of Laodice/Aphrodite.
     
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  10. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    @Bing, all very interesting coins - I particularly like the VALENTIA (Roman Britain?) & SINOPE...the Septimius...quite an abundance of cornucopiae.
     
  11. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    CORNUCOPIAE (species of Mushrooms or Roman Rulers, kinda the same. :D)

    Pleurotus

    upload_2020-9-7_10-28-5.png


    Hadrian Limes

    upload_2020-9-7_10-29-2.png
    RI Hadrian, AD 117-138 Æ Limes Denarius 18mm 3.5mm after AD 125 Genius stndg sacrificing altar cornucopia RIC II 173


    Orbiana

    upload_2020-9-7_10-29-35.png
    RI Orbiana w Severus Alexander Augusta 225-227 CE Æ AS 23 mm 8.75g Rome Concordia patera double cornucopiae RIC 656


    Claudius Gothicus

    upload_2020-9-7_10-31-12.png
    RI Claudius Gothicus CE 268-270 AE Ant 24x21mm 2.3g FORTVNA REDVX; Fortuna standing left rudder and cornucopia Z RIC 41


    upload_2020-9-7_10-32-51.png
     
  12. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    beautifull cornucopia coins, Sulla80 thanks for sharing

    lepton3.jpg P1170731xxcz (2).jpg
     
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  13. Edessa

    Edessa Well-Known Member

    Roman Egypt, Alexandria. Maximinus I, AD 235-238. Billon Tetradrachm (22.5mm, 13.33g, 12h). Dated RY 3 (AD 236/237). Obv: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Nilus reclining left on hippopotamus(?), holding reed and cornucopia; L-Γ (date) to left. Ref: Köln 2573; Dattari (Savio) 4589; K&G 65.44; Emmett 3293.3. Ex CNG. From the New Orleans Collection.

    zzzz.jpg
     
  14. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    Laodikeia really liked their cornucopias!
    LaodiciaLaodicia.jpg Phrygia, Laodikeia. pseudo-autonomous AE24 2nd-3rd Century. AD.
    Obv: LAODIKEIA, Bust of Tyche with mural crown.
    Rev: LAODIKEWN, Cornucopia.



    Poseidonia during second punic war.
    Clipboard~4.jpg Paestum(Poseidonia), Lucania. Second Punic War 218-201 BC. AE Triens. Obv: Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with vine / PAIS to right.
    Rev: Cornucopiae, spray of leaves on left, four dots vertically to left.
    Second Punic War. 218-201 BC.
    Crawford 6/1; SNG ANS 15-18.
     
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  15. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    LOL, I don't have any coins of emperor Pleurotus, but I do think I might have eaten these in Japan. Orbiana has quite a generous cornucopia!

    @Edessa, another very large cornucopia with Nilus.

    @ancientone, interesting coins, Poseidonia a location that I don't remember encountering before.

    @Andres2, thanks, especially the Judean coin - an essential for this category of coins with cornucopiae

    Here is a double, Phrygian, cornucopia from central Turkey -
    upload_2020-9-8_13-3-32.png
    Φιλομήλιον - Philomelion, Phrygia, today the city of Aksehir, Turkey
    Phrygia Philomelion AE.jpg Phrygia, Philomelion, Late 2nd-1st century BC, AE, ΜΕΝΕ−ΚΛΕ, magistrate
    Obv: Draped and winged bust of Nike to right, palm over her right shoulder
    Rev: ΦIΛOMH, double cornucopiae, each bound with fillet; between, thunderbolt surmounted by star and crescent, below magistrates name, ΜΕΝΕ−ΚΛΕ
    Ref: AMC 2544 (legend and magistrate variant), SNG von Aulock 3916 (?)
     
    Last edited: Sep 8, 2020
  16. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    Splendid Philomelion, Sulla80!
     
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  17. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    I have noticed an enormous influx of bronze coins from Asia Minor - as with any other time when there are large numbers of coins of a certain type or place - who know why and who knows how long it is going to last - and in a sense who cares. I’m just happy to be able to buy these beautiful pieces - and this last coin is stunning!
     
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  18. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Couldn't agree more....
     
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  19. David@PCC

    David@PCC allcoinage.com

    Thanks! All 3 came from the same seller about 15 years ago. The Aretas was the better part from a lot of 200 Nabataeans, of which I've sold 90% off.
     
  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    AELIUS CAESAR
    [​IMG]
    RI Aelius Caesar 138 CE AE As 26mm Rome mint Fortuna-Spes cornucopia and rudder
     
  21. Pavlos

    Pavlos You pick out the big men. I'll make them brave!

    Very nice coins @Sulla80! Asia Minor has a lot of obscure and interesting coin issues.

    My cornucopia coins:
    [​IMG]
    Demetrios II Nikator, First Reign (146-138 B.C.) AR Drachm, ΔΗ mint in Syria or Phoenicia, year ΔOP (174) = 139/8 B.C.
    Obverse:
    Diademed head of Demetrios to right.
    Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY ΠIΛAΔEΛΠOY NIKATOPOΣ, cornucopia; ΔH monogram and ΔOP (date) below.
    Reference: SC 1936; HGC 9, 978.
    3.72g; 18mm

    [​IMG]
    Demetrios I Soter (161-150 B.C.) AR Drachm. Barbaric (Galatian?) contemporary imitation of Antioch mint issue dated 152/1 BC (SE 161)
    Obverse:
    Diademed head right of Demetrios I right.
    Reverse: Cornucopia; below, two monograms above AΞ(P) (date) below.
    Reference: For type: SC 1657.
    4.30g; 15mm

    [​IMG]

    Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos) (121/0-97/6 B.C.) Æ Denomination B, Antioch mint. Struck ca. 109-96 B.C.
    Obverse:
    Radiate and diademed head of Antiochus VIII right.
    Reverse: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXΟΥ EΠIΦANOYΣ (“of King Antiochos the Illustrious”). Filleted double cornucopiae oriented to right.
    Reference: SC 2312;
    5.72g; 21mm
     
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