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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;old49er, post: 2937478, member: 78229&quot;]Hi everyone, just won this one in an auction. I really like the portrait and the condition is great i think. Interesting subject on the reverse. The Cista Mystica.[ATTACH=full]714659[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]714660[/ATTACH]&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;<b>Coin Type:</b> Brass AE21 of Amisos in Pontos, time Of Mithradates VI, 120-63 BCE </p><p><b>Mint and Date:</b> Amisos, 120-63 BCE</p><p><b>Size and Weight:</b> 20mm x 21mm, 8.30g</p><p><b>Obverse:</b> Head of young Dionysos right, wreathed in ivy with leaves and clusters of fruit. </p><p><b>Reverse:</b> Cista Mystica, with a ribboned <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/glossary.html#THYRSOS" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/glossary.html#THYRSOS" rel="nofollow">thyrsos</a> resting on it diagonally. </p><p>Monogram to left, AMIΣOY below. </p><p>&nbsp; </p><p><b>Ref:</b> GCV 3640 </p><p><b>BW Ref:</b> 009 050 160&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; In ancient Greek <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults" rel="nofollow">mystery cults</a>, the <i>cista mystica</i> were wicker-work boxes which seem to have contained a live serpent, as represented in numerous ancient images, including coins on which a cista is shown half-open with a serpent creeping out of it. These cistra were sometimes oblong, but more frequently cylindrical, for example, as represented in a statue of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silenus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silenus" rel="nofollow">Silenus</a> sitting on a large drum-shaped cista, holding a wine-jug in his hand. Cistra mystica were also carried in procession in the Greek festivals of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter" rel="nofollow">Demeter</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysus" rel="nofollow">Dionysus</a>—these boxes were always kept closed in public, and contained sacred items connected with the worship of these deities. The <i>cista mystica</i> was also known to be sacred to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchus" rel="nofollow">Bacchus</a>, but similar cult objects were probably also affiliated with Isis. In the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchic_mysteries" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchic_mysteries" rel="nofollow">Bacchic mysteries</a>, the serpent was carried on a bed of grape leaves and was used as a stand-in for the god. Copyright@Wikipedia. Feel free to show any coins related. I would enjoy seeing them.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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