Dear friends of antiquity! I have had this coin in my collection for 15 years. Yesterday I came across it again and realised that it is still not precisely identified. The question concerns the iconography! Moesia inferior, Markianopolis, Severus Alexander, 222-235 AE 25, 9.98g, 24.61mm, 15° struck under governor Iulius Gaetulicus Obv.: AV K M AV CEV AΛEZANΔPOC (Z retrograde) Bust, draped and cuirassed, laureate, n.r. Rev: VΠ IOV ΓETOVΛIKO - V - MAPKIANOΠOΛ in field in 3 lines I / T - W / N (N retrograde) Dionysos(?), nude, bearded, with topknot and braids to shoulders, without boots, standing left, Stand- und Spielbein, leaning with his left hand on the thyrsos(?) with pine cones(?) above and below, holding a wreath in his lowered right hand Ref.: a) AMNG I/1, 989 corr. (wreath misinterpreted as kantharos) b) Varbanov 1756 corr. (citing AMNG 989) c) Hristova/Jekov (2014) No.6.32.8.1 corr. (same die, but forgets the ligature of AP) AMNG, HrJ and Varbanov all write Dionysos with Kantharos. But the object in his right hand looks more like a wreath or even more like a pearl necklace! Curtis Clay wrote at the time: Yes, clearly a wreath or a looped garland! I'm not aware of any depiction of Dionysos holding a bandage. That's why I wonder whether it's Dionysos at all. The so-called Thyrsos could also be a sceptre. Does anyone know of a mythology in which Dionysos and a wreath play a role? Or who could the figure represent if it is perhaps not Dionysos? Kind regards Jochen
Hi, if it's useful, in wildwinds AMNG987 Describe the reverse as "Hermes" holding a bag and a staff (if you could see the winged feet, it would be easier).. The reverse is described as Hermes holding a bag and a staff (if you could see the winged feet, it would be easier) but Hermes is associated with commerce, so the bag would be more likely. I always find Dionysus with the bunch of grapes.... Anyway, I hope it is useful to you and does not complicate things even more. On this page about the coins of Marcianopolis, there are several that describe the reverse as being of Hermes, perhaps he was a god associated with the city. Severus Alexander AE24 of Markianopolis, Moesia Inf. Magistrate Gaetulicus. AVT K M AVR CEV ALEXANDROC, laureate head right. VP IOVL GETOVLIOVK MARKIANOPOL,ITWN (in fields), Hermes standing left, holding purse and staff. Here is another page that takes the reverse of coins similar to yours as the figure of Hermes. Kind regards. Espero sea útil.
Dear danielus! Thank you for posting this coin. But I don't think it is Hermes. I don't see any attributes that speak in favour of Hermes. The knobbly stick is more reminiscent of a thrysos. And if it is a purse in his right hand, it should be closed. In fact it consists of an udder. But here it consists only of a large opening. Kind regards Jochen
