Earliest Patera?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Gavin Richardson, Mar 26, 2019.

  1. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    I am interested in depictions of the patera on coins. Can we crowd source the earliest appearance of a patera on a Greek or Roman coin? I'm defining patera here as a shallow bowl primarily used to pour out a libation to the gods.

    The image of Genius holding a patera dominates the Roman coinage of the Tetrarchs. I'd like to think this dominance relates to Diocletian's Christian persecution, in that Genius is modeling the token gesture to the gods that everyone in the empire was supposed to make, especially those seditious Christians. But perhaps that's too fanciful a reading.

    Thoughts about one or both of these queries?

    DIOCLETIAN GENIO POP 1.jpeg
     
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  3. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    My earliest is a quinarius
    M. PORCIUS CATO.jpg
    M. PORCIUS CATO; GENS PORCIA
    AR Quinarius
    OBVERSE: M • CATO • PRO • PR, wreathed head of Liber right
    REVERSE: Victory seated right, holding palm branch over her left shoulder and patera in her right hand, VICTRIX in ex
    Utica, Africa 47-46 BC
    1.4 g, 13 mm
    Cr462/2, Porcia 11
    Caligula 2.jpg
    CALIGULA
    AE As
    OBVERSE: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TRP O T - Bare head Left.
    REVERSE: VESTA - Vesta seated left, holding patera and scepter
    Struck at Rome, 37/8AD
    9.6g, 28mm
    RIC38, BMC46, C27
    Hadrian 3.jpg
    HADRIAN
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder
    REVERSE: COS III, Concordia seated left on throne, holding patera & resting left arm on statuette of Spes on column at side of throne
    Struck at Rome, 125-8 AD
    2.3g, 18mm
    RIC 172
    Hadrian 2.jpg
    HADRIAN
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right, draped far shoulder
    REVERSE: P M TR P COS III, Clemency standing left, holding patera over altar and staff, CLEM in ex.
    Struck at Rome, 124 AD
    2.9g, 18mm
    RIC 117c, S 3463
    Septimius Severus 13b.jpg
    SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
    REVERSE: P M TR P XVI COS III P P, Concordia seated left on throne, holding patera and sceptre
    Struck at Rome, 208 AD
    3.42g, 20mm
    RIC 218
     
  4. Ken Dorney

    Ken Dorney Yea, I'm Cool That Way...

    How about a couple of actual pateras? 1st Millenium BC and earlier:

    IMG_8354.JPG
     
  5. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    Oh man. Hope you don’t fry eggs in those.
     
  6. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Some early ones (none are mine!). No doubt the dating isn't entirely secure:

    Screen Shot 2019-03-26 at 11.56.26 AM.jpg Screen Shot 2019-03-26 at 11.56.36 AM.jpg Screen Shot 2019-03-26 at 11.56.47 AM.jpg Screen Shot 2019-03-26 at 11.57.01 AM.jpg Screen Shot 2019-03-26 at 11.57.14 AM.jpg
     
  7. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    This was a thought-provoking thread and it made me go back through all my coins looking for one. This is my earliest:

    Vespasian SALVS AVG denarius.jpg
    Vespasian, AD 69-79.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.18 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h.
    Rome, AD 73.
    Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII CEN, laureate head, right.
    Rev: SALVS AVG, Salus seated left, holding patera, left hand at side.
    Refs: RIC 58; RIC 2.1 522; BMCRE 87-89; Cohen/RSC 432; CBN 76; RCV 2307.
     
  8. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

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