My second coin I wish to share this week continues the Alexandrian theme of the first. Domitian Æ Diobol, 6.55g Alexandria mint, 82-83 AD Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ, Head of Domitian, laureate, r. Rev: ΕΤΟΥΣ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΥ; Bust of Sarapis, r. RPC 2481 (8 spec.). Emmett 297.2. Dattari-Savio 506. Acquired from Marc Breitsprecher, August 2021. Domitian's Alexandrian issues can be viewed in two halves. The first half largely continues the traditional style and types that came before under Vespasian and Titus. The second half, beginning in regnal years 10 and 11 with a massive overhaul of the mint, sees the development of new and innovative ethnic and Greek reverse designs combined with superior style. This fairly common diobol from the first half shows the standard stylistic characteristics that were by this time well trodden ground for the mint. The reverse type featuring a bust of Sarapis is directly copied from the reigns of Vespasian and Titus. The cult of Sarapis gained special importance during the Flavian dynasty because of Vespasian's vital connection to Egypt during the Civil War of 69. Feel free to show off your Sarapis coins!
Alexandrian bronzes are cool! I completely understand why Dattari was fascinated by them. That coin has a lot of eye appeal, @David Atherton! I have lots of coins of Serapis, most of them with him standing. However, this one has his head, so it's a bit like yours in that respect. Gordian III, AD 238-244. Roman provincial Æ Pentassarion, 12.49 g, 26.6 mm, 7 h. Moesia Inferior, Dionysopolis, AD 238-241. Obv: AVT K M (below)/ANTWNIOC ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III, right, facing draped bust of Serapis, left, wearing modius. Rev: ΔΙΟΝVCΟΠ-ΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Hygieia standing left, feeding serpent from a patera; E in lower left field. Refs: Varbanov 559; AMNG I 395 var.; BMC 3, p.24, 4; Mionnet Suppl 2, 82; Moushmov 133; SNG Budapest 31; Jekov 49; SNRIS Dionysopolis 12.
Nice coins! my only coin featuring Serapis in fact just arrived today. It is a very interesting one because you might wouldnt think to have a half german guy who became a usurper in Gaul to be a devotee of Serapis. But here is the hard proof how far this cult has spread in the empire: Antoninianus - Emperor Postumus - SERAPI COMITI AVG
My one and only Sarapis Egypt, Alexandria tetradrachm 133-134 25 mm 12.71 g ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ, laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian, r., seen from rear / L ΙΗ, Sarapis seated, l., holding sceptre; to l., Cerberus
Here's a couple of Serapis in the Roman coinage, plus one of Nero's tets... Postumus, yep even though he was in Germany he still has Serapis as his companion... This Maximin Daia piece may be the last Roman coin featuring Serapis... Nero tet featuring Serapis wearing a kalathos
Very nice, everyone. Here's my one Serapis, a type very similar to @ambr0zie's (which looks like a Year 10 to me): Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 18 (133/134 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Serapis enthroned left, wearing modius on head, holding scepter in left hand, and extending right hand toward Cerberus seated to left at his feet; L IH [= Year 18] in left field. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 5871 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5871; BMC 16 Alexandria 620-621 at p. 74 & PL. XIII [Pool, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892)]; Köln 1095 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band II (Hadrian-Antoninus Pius) (Cologne, 1978, corrected reprint 1987)]; Dattari (Savio) 1480 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]; Emmett 892.18 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Milne 1394 [Milne, J., A Catalogue of the Alexandrian Coins in the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay); K&G 32.571 [Kampmann, Ursula & Granschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria (2008)]. 25 mm., 12.42 g., 12 h.
Sorry, I didn't see the "H" over on the right, so I guess your coin is a Year 18 like mine, except for the H being in a different location.
@DonnaML - nice coin. Mine is uglier but I still like it a lot - quite a majestic coin and the design is intact. Why do you say it's year 10? (this is my only coin from Alexandria and I want to learn) The reverse on my coin has LI on the left field and H on the right field. When I identified it I found this entry https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5871 Examples 16 and 25 seem similar (for me) Other examples of RPC III 5871 show LIH in the left field (like yours) Year 10 should be LI but I could not find a Sarapis and Cerberus tetradrachm with LI. Edit - posted a few seconds after @DonnaML
Nice one David. Here's a Titus tetradrachm with Serapis AYTOK TITOY KAIΣO YEΣΠAΣIANOY ΣEB laureate head of Titus right ΣAPAΠIΣ bust of Serapis right, wearing taenia, modius on head ornamented with branches of laurel, date LB (year 2) right Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 79 - 28 Aug 80 A.D 12.254g, 25.4mm
