I just picked up yet another Diocletian tetradrachm, number 5 now. I had a hard time telling what I was even looking at, but once I started looking around turns out that's a rather interesting reverse type. It shows the personification of Alexandria holding the [severed] head of Sarapis! How cool is that, the poses reminds me of the classic Hamlet scene...
Seems as though poor ole' Serapis' head has been lugged around for quite some time. Here is his disembodied head on an Alexandrian Tet from Phillip I. Philip I 247-248 AD (Year 5) AE tetradrachm Obverse: A K M IOV ΦIΛIΠΠOC EVCE, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverse: Alexandria, mural crown, standing left, holding bust of Serapis and sceptre; L E (date) across field.
How about poor Sol Invictus, his head sure do smell: MAXIMINUS II DAIA (310-313). Follis. Antioch. 20 mm, 4,68 g Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG. Laureate head right. Rev: GENIO AVGVSTI / * / B / ANT. Genius standing left, holding head of Sol and cornucopia. RIC VI, S. 643, 164 (b). 2021 Elkowicz
It's not a severed head; but a bust, like a statue. Two examples below that demonstrate this better, with the second example (bust of Sol) showing drapery.
Yes I refuse to believe it is not a severed head... I know I am wrong .. but I won't allow it. Too cool!
Excellent.... I like being wrong ... it happens so often that I have learned to embrace it. Also enjoy looking at things in a silly way... like maybe most Roman Imperial coins feature a severed head?? They don't - but that would certainly be interesting: OBV: Severed head of Licinius, right IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIUS PF AVG REV: IOVO CONSERVATORI SMN in exergue – Nicomedia mint lol
