Hi there Just wanted to share this coin I recently purchased and see if anybody had some idea of its rarity. I can't quite be sure from what I have uncovered myself. ~Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea AE 27mm (10.03 g) of Markianopolis. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus right, facing diademed and draped bust of Mamaea left / Dionysos standing left, holding kantharos and thyrsos, panther at foot left. E (Mark of value) in field to right
That's a scarce one. It is probably AMNG I-1, 1076, which is so worn that Pick was unsure of the identity of the reverse figure but notes it could be Dionysus with Kantharos and Thyrsos with a panther before him. The breaks in the described reverse legend match your specimen exactly, supporting the attribution of your coin as Pick 1076. Pick notes only a single specimen, in Vienna, and cited in Musei Theupoli Antiqua Numismata, that was cited also by Mionnet and also by Arneth. It is not in Corpus Nummorum online. The relevant RPC volume has not, unfortunately, been published online yet. Here's Mionnet's description of the same specimen. He gives it an R4 rarity rating.
This one was sold twice by CNG (2002 and 2006); it's the only other example I was able to find online. It appears to be a double die match to your specimen.
That's great! Thank you for looking into it roman collector it's very kind of you. I am still new to this amazing hobby but I really do feel that I have a modern day connection to wine themed ancient coins especially. I work in a winery and vineyard. They are truly an inspirational for me. Out of curiosity and at the risk of sounding greedy. What sort of value would you put on this coin? I payed $65 USD on ebay. Was that a fair price you think?
I did not know the typically Byzantine ligature ꙋ was already in use in the early 3rd c. These coins must be one of its earliest attestations.
Very nice coin, @Struck7. Congratulations. In the late 3rd/early 4th century there were many, many bronze coins with reverses depicting the genius (sort of a guardian spirit) pouring wine from a patera, a type of cup or pan that contained wine. There are many different varieties of this coin. Some of them show the wine actually coming out of the patera, some show the genius sacrificing wine over an alter. There are also earlier coins that have a similar reverse, although these are less abundant and will take a little more poking around to unearth. There are also Greek and provincial versions of this theme, as well as many coins with a bunch of grapes or a trellis covered in grape vines on the reverse--some are quite rare, some are very common, some dirt cheap, some frighteningly expensive. If you really want to collect wine-themed coins, you've come to the right place. Here's a typical Genio reverse type: Galerius (Maximian) Caesar, A.D. 293-305 Augustus, A.D. 305-311 Bronze Nummus Ticinum mint, A.D. 295-296 Obv: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI - Genius, modius on head, naked but for chlamys hanging from shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae ST in exergue RIC 30b 28mm, 9.9g.
Thank you. Certainly feels like I have come to the right place in coin talk. Plenty of knowledge around its humbling. I appreciate it greatly. Here is a greek coin I picked up which was on the dirt cheap side. It's very rough but I love it and would be interested to see what one in better condition looks like AE19mm 6.20 grams 350-100 B.C. I believe its Dionysos on the obverse
I believe your coin is a variety of this type from Dionysopolis: http://wildwinds.com/coins/greece/moesia/dionysopolis/Moushmov_77.jpg Dionysopolis, Moesia Inf. AE18mm, 5,55gr. Head of Dionysos right, wreathed with ivy. DIONYSOS, Grapevine with bunches of grapes, AG monogram below. Moushmov 77 (With permission of www.slaveycoins.com, March 2012)
Thanks khaghogh It very interesting to see this. With this new knowledge on the coin I love it even more. Much appreciated
Since 2020, Nomos has been auctioning a huge collection (The Vineyard Collection) that seems to include any and every ancient coin related to Dionysos, grapes, and wine. Here's the link to the first of those auctions. One of the ex Vineyard Collection coins I picked up is a Roman provincial from Pautalia with the reverse scene depicting a harvest of the city's abundance: gold, silver, grain, and wine. A small figure standing on the arm of the reclining nymph can be seen plucking grapes from a vine, with the legend just to its left (BOTPV) meaning grapes. CARACALLA AE29. 14.87g, 28.9mm. THRACE, Pautalia, AD 198-217. Varbanov 5174; Ruzicka 634. O: AVT K M AVPH ANTΩNINOC, laureate head right. R: VΛΠΙΑC ΠΑVΤΑΛΙΑ-C, Nymph reclining left, right hand resting on a galley, left arm resting on overturned urn from which water flows; behind and above, grapevine; in exergue, field of grain; above, child standing right plucking grapes from the vine, with the legend BOTPV (bunch of grapes) behind him; at the nymph's feet, a second child carrying a sack over his shoulder advancing to right, with the legend APΓY/POC (silver); in exergue, a third child standing right, picking grain ears, with the legend ΣΤΑΧV (grain ear); a fourth child seated to left behind vine, with arms extended, and with the legend XPYΣOΣ (gold). Ex Vineyard Collection, acquired in March 2002 They must also have liked their wine in the Macedonian city of Terone. Their coins often feature an oinochoe, or wine pitcher. MACEDON, Terone AR Tetrobol. 2.59g, 16.2mm. MACEDON, Teron, circa 490-460 BC. Hardwick Group II or III, pl. 29, 6; HGC 3.1, 709 (R2). O: Oinochoe, grapes hanging from neck. R: Quadripartite incuse square.
Some Those are very nice coins zumbly. Thank you for sharing them and the link. I personally love the caracalla coin and what it is depicting. I have actually just had my 4 year old son working with me in the vineyard today. Its so nice to see the respect shown to the next generation of winemakers on a coin. Beautiful
