Dear friends of ancient mythology! I am proud to have now solved a mystery surrounding one of the most unusual coins of Commodus from Nicopolis. This was achieved through the quality of the following coin, which, when enlarged, revealed new, previously unknown details. The coin: Moesia inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum, Commodus, AD 177-192. AE 18, 3.33g Obv.: AVT M AVPH - KOMOΔOC Laureate head r. Rev.: NEIKOΠOΛI Π - POC EICTP(sic!) (both P reverse). Pan, nude, wearing spruce wreath, walking r., shouldering a lagobolon with raised right hand and holding a wine vessel in front of belly with left. Ref.: a) AMNG I/1, 1242 corr. (1 ex., Vienna) b) Varbanov 2181 corr. c) Hristova/Hoeft/Jekov (2021) No.8.10.8.3corr. not common, almost EF 120 year old mystery of the "horns" solved! During my research I found 7 other coins. On these, the naked figure on the reverse is called Pan, Dionysus and even a river god, among others. The great Behrendt Pick knew only 1 ex. 18mm in 1895, and cites Wien Arneth Sitzungsber. 9, 898, 7 as his source. The Rev. of this coin is illustrated under no. 13 on plate XIX. Behrendt Pick (1861-1940) was probably the greatest German numismatist. His accuracy and reliability are a model unrivalled to this day. His last position was honorary professor in Jena, where he was retired in 1934 as part of the persecution of the Jews. He died in 1940. His wife took her own life 2 years later for fear of Nazi persecution. He writes about this coin: The naming of the very roughly worked figure is uncertain because the attributes are unclear. The object going from the right hand over the shoulder to the back seems to be a long staff, which would suggest Pan; the two points appearing on the head, which are rather horns than ends of a wreath, would also fit. This description has been adopted by almost everyone, but the "horns" always remain somewhat unclear. But now everyone can see for themselves that these "horns(?)" are looking like antlers and are indeed spruce branches! Pan garlanded with fir branches So it really is Pan, and the 120-year-old mystery of the "horns" has been solved: this depiction belongs to the mythology of Pan and the nymph Pitys. What could be nicer for a collector? By the way: Does anyone know another coin that shows Pan with a spruce wreath? Best regards Jochen
