I received two coins in a bulk lot that looked like someone tried to strip them down to bare metal and then gave up halfway through the process. Blecch! Both coins half obscured by large, gloppy blobs, to use technical jargon. Last night I subjected them both to electrolysis and got a nice surprise. In addition to a provincial of Hadrian from the Koinon of Bithynia with an octastyle temple reverse (RPC v.3, #999), I uncovered this coin: an AE22 of Hadrian from Claudiopolis in Bithynia. RPC online shows two examples. Mine is nicer than both despite the rough surfaces. I did not see any examples on Wildwinds, ACSearch, or in the CNG archives, so it seems like mine may be the 3rd recorded example; I would appreciate hearing about others. Here it is: Roman Provincial AE22 Bithynian Claudiopolis RPC, III, #1107 Obv: AYT TPAINO - [KAICAP AΔPIANOC] Rev: KΛAYΔIO - ΠOΛITΩN - Asclepius, standing, facing left, resting right hand on serpent-entwined staff and holding unidentified object in left hand. 22x20 mm, 5.7 g. And now my question: Can anyone figure out what Asclepius is holding in his left hand? Might it be a scroll?
Nice coin. I'm afraid I am going to be no help here, but I had a similar situation trying to figure out what Asklepios is holding. It is described as a "patera" but the position of his hand/arm doesn't seem to be in patera mode. My notes are below: Antoninus Pius Æ 20 n.d. (138-161 A.D.) Moesia Inferior, Tomis [ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ Α]ΔΡΙ ΑΝ[ΤωΝΙΝΟϹ] bare head right / [ΤΟΜΙ]ΤωΝ Η ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛ[ΙϹ], Asklepios standing facing, head left, holding patera (?) and (leaning on) serpent-entwined staff. (4.52 grams / 20 mm) Attribution Notes: Bare head obverse. Reverse legend is partially ligate (MH; though NH is also ligate in some examples). Not sure if this one has patera. Asklepios described as "holding" staff, but he is leaning on it. RPC IV 4385 (temporary); Varbanov 4693; AMNG 2619; Moushmov 1819 (without patera)
It would not surprise me if he were holding the same thing on both coins--pointed upward with his left hand on my coin and downward with his right on yours.
The depiction is similar to the statue in the Palazzo Altemps, including the object, which IMHO looks like a scroll: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/...tion,_Palazzo_Altemps,_Rome_(31963763014).jpg
Wow! Thank you for this. According to wikimedia, that statue is a copy of a 2nd century Greek original. It seems likely that the reverse on my coin is intended to depict this statue. Looks like it could be a scroll in his left hand, but I wouldn't say it definitely is one.
In case it's helpful to anyone trying to identify this object, here's a close up: Asclepius holds a similar object in This Statue, too. Salt shaker? Can of Pringles?
Definitely! That's one beefcake Asklepios on that coin, @gsimonel! This is one of my favorite Asklepios coins. I'm not sure what -- if anything -- he is holding in his left hand. Severus Alexander, AD 222-235. Roman Provincial Æ 27.2 mm, 8.75 g, 6 h. Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior, Legate Um(brius?) Tereventinus, AD 226-227. Obv: AVT K M AVP CEVH AΛEZANΔPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: HΓ ȢM TEPEBENTINOV MAPKIANOΠOΛIT-ΩN, Asklepios standing facing, head left, holding serpent staff. Refs: AMNG I 1027; Moushmov 696; Varbanov 1685 (same dies).
Very interesting information on Asklepios and his stuff - here are two more I got in a lot of over-cleaned Provincials last fall. Both show Asklepios leaning on the staff holding something in his other hand, maybe: Septimius Severus Æ 26 (c. 193-211 A.D.) Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum Aurelius Gallus, consular legate AY K•Λ:C CEVHΡOC, laureate head right / VΠ AVP ΓΑΛΛΟV NIKOΠOΛITAN, ΠΡΟCI• in ex., Asklepios standing r., holding serpent-entwined staff on ground. (10.53 grams / 26 mm) eBay Sep. 2020 Lot @ $5.00 Attribution Note: There are several variations of this type, found exact match for legends via acsearch: Mouchmov 909. Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Electronic Auction 441, Lot 294 April 3, 2019 Septimius Severus Æ 28 (c. 193-211 A.D.) Thrace, Pautalia Caicilius Largus, Hegemon [A]V K Λ CEΠ CEV[HPOC Π]. laureate head right / HΓ[E KAIKI ΛAPΓOV] OVΛΠIAC ΠAVT[AΛIAC]. tetrastyle temple with Asklepios standing with serpent-entwined staff. (13.51 grams / 28 mm) eBay Sep. 2020 Lot @ $5.00 Attribution Note: There are several variations of this type, found exact match for legends via acsearch: Varbanov 4631, noted as rare. Numismatik Naumann (formerly Gitbud & Naumann) Auction 33, Lot 288 July 5, 2015
Please understand this from the beginning - I know nothing about ancient coins! Until this post i never heard of Asklepios? But, living in SW Louisiana, I'm very familiar with snakes. To me, it looks like a serpent in his left hand? Possibly its body across the top of his hand? But it certainly looks like its body hanging from his hand, the head at the very end and a "crook" in its neck, just above the head. Exactly like "snakes" tend to do. Tried to post an enlarged photo of the area, but not familiar enough with how to do it. Sorry, but you can enlarge your photo and see what I'm talking about hanging from his left hand. Hope this helps.
An absolutely uneducated guess, but I believe it's a scroll. I didn't see it until @gsimonel posted the photo of the statue. Again, just a guess!
I was able to upload photo i was referring to in earlier post. Couldn't include it in that post. This certainly looks like a serpent to me hanging from his left hand. But, what do I know, lol? Added: I also believe that it is coiled around his left hand? But, just a guess?
I think what appears to be a snake is actually just the fold of his drapery, heavily worn due to circulation. It's clearer on my specimen. I've enlarged my original photo in case this is helpful:
Sorry, I wasn't clear in my comment. I was referring to the coin @Roman Collector posted. Added: I believe yours to be a scroll, as you proposed as a possibility.
