I picked up a Silenos coin and two pieces that were sold as scale weights. The portraits look similar in hand. Roman Provincial; D. JUNIUS SILANUS, Praetor 142–141 BC; Æ21 Obv - Bearded head of Silenos facing. Rev - within wreath D / MAKE / ΔONΩN. 12.08 grams 22.0 – 23.3 mm dia X 4.6 mm thick Fine + SNG Cop. 1324-1326; ex FORVM Ancient Coins per FORVM – this type is usually dated 166 – 165 BC, but the obverse of Silenos design and the reverse “D” could point to D Junius Silanus (name pun) Roman Praetor governing Macedonia 142 – 141 BC. Roman Bronze Head of Silenus, 1st-2nd century AD (seller's date). 13.08 gr 27.2 X 24.4 X 7.5 mm It is hard to tell what some items were unless there is find data that gives hints. If it is really Roman it could be a scale weight, a votive item (although I am not aware of temples to this guy) or a decoration piece. In pre-coin Italy it could have been small change. The weight is close to a half ounce weight (13.6 grams). I will probably put it with my scale weights. The holes do not look like they were used for hanging on a string or connected to something. It does not look like it circulated like money or held as a pocket piece. Late Roman or Byzantine Scale Weight Lot – · Commercial barrel weight, bronze with silver inlays, 2 ounces, γB on top, 22 mm · Commercial flat octagonal bronze weight, half an ounce, IB stamped on top with cross above all in dots, 12 grams, 19 mm · A relief of Silenskopf, Bronze, Roman, 1st-3rd century 33 mm dia, 37.02 grams, no marks. Note: this is too heavy for a 1 ounce weight and too light for a 2 ounce weight. My guess is this was a votive item or decoration. It was not worn or carried enough to have much wear. o Ex Hirsch 181, 1994, Lot No. 1241 and 1309.
These are fascinating. I'll defer to your expertise as to the two bearded pieces being coin weights. But it certainly seems reasonable to think that they're supposed to represent Silenos, especially given the close resemblance to the coin portrait. Although I suppose it could be Pan. Were you told anything about their provenance? Have you tried doing research on similar artifacts? They do remind me a little bit of this Hellenic pottery mask of Silenos I have, although the style is quite different: Hellenistic molded Pottery Mask of Silenos, ca. 3rd century BCE, grapevines in hair, traces of original black and white pigment. 5" H. Purchased from Artemis Gallery, Colorado USA, May 31, 2011; ex. Collection of Harvey Sarner, Palm Springs, CA (1934-2007), acquired 1984: I would assume that its purpose is decorative, unless it had some religious significance. It's certainly too small and fragile to serve as an actual mask! I have one coin which some authorities believe shows a mask of Silenus (to use the Roman spelling); others identify it as a mask of Pan. See the third footnote, advocating the former. Roman Republic, C. Vibius Varus, AR Denarius, 42 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Bacchus (or Liber)* right, wearing earring and wreath of ivy and grapes / Rev. Spotted panther [leopard]** springing left towards garlanded altar on top of which lies a bearded mask of Silenus or Pan,*** and against which leans a thyrsus with fillet (ribbon); C • VIBIVS in exergue, VARVS upwards to right. Crawford 494/36, RSC I Vibia 24, Sydenahm 1138, BMCRR 4295, Sear RCV I 496. 17 mm., 3.60 g. Ex. Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 83, May 20, 2015, Lot 83; ex. Frank Sternberg Auction 17, Zurich, May 1986, Lot 519. *The identification of the obverse head as Bacchus or Liber is essentially immaterial. See Jones, John Melville, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (Seaby, London, 1990) at p. 33 (entry for “Bacchus”): “For the Romans . . . . [Bacchus] was generally identified with the Italian deity Liber, whose name is probably derived from the same root as the word ‘libation,’ suggesting that in Italy he was an earth or vegetation spirit who could be worshipped by pouring offerings upon the ground. . . . Bacchus appears rarely upon Roman imperial coins (and when he is given a name, he is called Liber). He is shown as a youthful male figure, nude or partly draped, perhaps with a wreath of ivy leaves. He may bear a thyrsus and be accompanied by Ariadne, a bacchant or maenad, or a panther.” ** [Omitting lengthy footnote arguing that "panthers" on ancient coins shown with visible spots were intended to portray big cats that we would identify as leopards, since the ancients were unquestionably familiar with them.] ***The mask has more frequently been identified with Pan than with Silenus, but because the moneyer’s branch of the gens Vibia lacks the cognomen “Pansa” (a reason for the appearance of Pan on the coins of moneyers with that cognomen, as a pun), Silenus appears to be a more likely identification, especially given the association of Silenus with Bacchus. See Jones, supra at p, 289, identifying Silenus as “[a]n elderly attendant of Bacchus.” See also id. at p. 234 (entry for “Pan”), noting that “[a] bearded head which appears on [the obverse of] a silver sestertius of T. Carisius [46 BC), with a reverse type of a panther bearing a thyrsus, has been identified as Pan but is more likely to be a Silenus, matching the Bacchic reverse type.”
Here are some silenos figures and sirens on the Lampadario di Cortona. The Etruscan chandelier also features 16 Acheloios heads (corresponding to the 16 heavenly divisions in Etruscan cosmology). The eight sirens are probably from the same tradition as the Platonic Sirens mentioned in the Republic. One of my favorite pieces of ancient art, from the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca e della Città di Cortona. I'll discuss this briefly in an upcoming essay on the nymphs.
I love the coin type but those weights are awesome! Here he is living: And then the Romans loved his mask as he was very prominent in plays:
Since this type hasn't been posted yet, I will share my Silenus (or his mask, rather) on a Roman Republican denarius. It is an imperfect copy: My photo shows the obverse tilted forward too much, adding to the misery - bad day at the mint: Roman Republic Denarius D. Junius L. f. Silanus (90 B.C.) Rome Mint Mask of bearded Silenus right, plough right, all within torque / Victory in biga right, with whip and palm, carnyx beneath, [D SILANVS L F] in exergue. Crawford 337/1a; Junia 19. (3.63 grams / 18 mm) eBay June 2017 Here is Wildwinds' example, so you can see what it is supposed to look like: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/rsc/junia/t.html
These are often described merely as "bald satyr" but I believe they are Silenos. THRACE, Thasos, 411 - 404 BC? AR Tritartemorion. 8mm, 0.42 g Obv: Head of bald and bearded satyr right Rev: Θ/Α/Σ. Two dolphins swimming left and right, one above the other. This head is about the same size as Lincoln's on a 1 cent coin:
The mask of Silenos lying flat on the reverse of your third coin looks almost exactly like the one on the reverse of the Vibius Varus Roman Republican coin I posted. They both have that "jack in the box" look about them. Do you have a date for your coin?
Good eye! Both also feature Dionysus on the obverse! Yes, the coin is: Antoninus Pius Phrygia. Laodiceia ad Lycum. AE 19, 4.79g. Phrygia, Laodiceia ad Lycum, Under Antoninus Pius, magistrate P. Ailios Dionysios Sabinianos. Obv: ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΩΝ Draped bust of Dionysus right, with ivy-wreath. Rx: ΑΙΛ - ΔΙΟΝV - CΙΟC Mask of Silenus with ivy-wreath lying on cista mystica, around which a serpent twines, with both tail and crested and bearded head right; at left, pedum over which a pair of cymbals hangs. BM 96, pl. 35,6 (same obverse die). SNG Copenhagen 532. Delightful reverse type, fine style. VF. Purchased from Savoca Sept 2021
Wonderful! I think your coin helps confirm the identification of the mask on the reverse of mine as Silenus rather than Pan, given the continuing association, over a period of at least 200 years, between a young, handsome Bacchus/Dionysus and Silenus as his elderly, bearded attendant. The repeating motif of the mask of Silenus lying flat on a basket suggests to me that such a scene would have been widely recognized, and has some sort of ritual or festive significance. By the way, one question I forgot to raise about the depiction of Bacchus/Liber on my coin: is anyone aware of another Roman coin showing a male deity or other figure wearing an earring?
For sure! Silenus was used as comedic relief for lots of Greek plays. That's why his masks are so popular!...that reminds me, "Did you know that in Athens nobody gets up before noon? Dawn is really tough on Greece."
I have no provenance info on either cast piece. I searched for scale weights that look like these and found only one similar to the larger piece for pan balances. There are a few Silenos steelyard weights. I found a few pieces described as an appliqué, ornament or cutout design, that is sewn on to or otherwise applied to a piece of material. A decorative feature, as a sconce, applied to a surface. The following piece is 4 times the size of mine and sold for $8M in 2004. The smaller piece was described - Roman Bronze Head of Silenus; 1st-2nd century AD. It has no marks of value but is flat on the bottom and would be steady in a balance pan. The second piece was in a scale weight lot and was called a relief applike with Silenskopf, Bronze, Roman, 1st-3rd century. It also has no marks of value and is not flat on the bottom. It would rock on a balance pan.
Great coin, @DonnaML ! The head seems to be wearing a hat of some sort. The depictions I recall seeing of those two did not show them wearing a hat. But…….
I like them! I have a few Silenos coins and here are masks of Silenos and Pan on a denarius. Moneyer: C. Vibius C.f. Pansa Obv.: PANSA - Mask of bearded Silenos right; below, control mark (two bells) Rev.: C·VIBIVS·C·F - Mask of bearded Pan right; before, control mark (sistrum) Mint: Rome (90 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.55g / 17mm / 5h References: RSC 1 (Vibia) Sydenham 689 Crawford 342/1 BMCRR Rome 2310 Acquisition: Numismatica Ars Classica Online auction Auction 120 #539 7-Oct-2020 ATB, Aidan.
My only one related to Silenus: The donkey’s head behind Roma on the obverse is an allusion to Silenus, don't know why (picture mrbcoins): RR, Denarius 18.11 mm, 3.97 g Rome, 145 BC Crawford 220/1; RSC Junia 8; Sydenham 408; RBW 944 Ob.: (ROMA) Head of Roma right in winged helmet, donkey’s head left behind, X (mark of value) below chin; border of dots Rev.: The Dioscuri on horseback galloping right, M•IVN below horses; ROM(A) in ex.
