Well I was just looking for an inexpensive lot of Romans for a new class of students but could not resist a Lucius Verus with a Demeter reverse and a provenance. Could only find one other online like it in the Boston Museum of Fine Art collection. Could not find any like it on, RPC Online, CNG, Acsearch, Wildwinds or Snible.org. Maybe just my poor search skills?, not sure. Reverse is poor but the bust and patina on the obverse is sweet. It is in my area of interest- the mystery schools of Eleusis,Delphi and the Mithraic cult. They are all connected and the time period was when they were all interconnecting and Christianity was budding alongside it all.And Demeter, the All Mother of Eleusis has a billowing cape in a crescent shape! @Ed Snible - The Mithras origin book is pretty good. Thanks Kyzikos (Cyzicus) 34mm Struck Under Lucius Verus "Demeter"Lucius Verus Mysia, Kyzikos (Cyzicus) Mint 161-169 AD Obverse: AV KAI M AVRHLIOC Bare headed, draped bust right Reverse: KYZIKHNWN?.. Demeter (?) with two objects BMC: -, Ex. Aukt. Numismatica Wien 17, 274 Very Rare Size: 34mm, 25.36g This one from the Boston Museum Fine Art online: Coin of Cyzicus with bust of Lucius Verus(Museum of Fine Art – Boston) online collection Roman Provincial Imperial Period A.D. 161–169 Mint: Asia: Mysia, Cyzicus Diameter: 35 mm. Weight: 24.09 gm. Die Axis: 7 Obverse: Draped, cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus to right, seen from the back. Inscription in Greek. Reverse: Demeter, cloak swirling behind her, marches right, holding out two torches. Inscription in Greek. Provenance By 1964: with Münzen und Medaillen A.G., Malzgasse 25, Basel, Switzerland (Münzen und Medaillen auction 28, June 19-20, 1964, lot 377); purchased by MFA at the Münzen und Medaillen auction; accessioned September 23, 1964 Credit Line Theodora Wilbour Fund in memory of Zoë Wilbour And here was the lot of 20 LRBs which was what I really was looking for which I won($5.50) to surprise my new class of fifth graders with! Post your Lucius Verus or Demeter beauties:
Two torches held out is (also) a symbol of Hekate. Wikipedia says: "Ancient Greek: Ἑκάτη, Hekátē) is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches or a key and in later periods depicted in triple form. She was variously associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, light, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, ghosts, necromancy, and sorcery. I have one of Julia Domna: 29 mm. Prusa ad Olympum, Bithynia. Not in references consulted, but the city is in Sear Greek Imperial as 2359. ex Henry Clay Lindgren, but not in his books.
Thanks Warren. I do feel that all these goddesses are interconnected, many have the triune aspect and the connection to the Tree of Life and the Moon. The dual torches are also interesting, I have a drachm of Alexander with Demeter holding the torches also reverse left field) and this bronze of the triple form Moon Goddess Hecate: The torches also carry over to the Mithraic mysteries and are prominent in many of the Aeonic Mithras depictions and the Tauroctony images:
I understand that Tanit, patron of Carthage, was associated as Tanit / Demeter / Persephone / Kore... This one can be harder to get. Here she is being minted in Southern Italia when Hannibal was ravaging the Romans. Bruttium - Carthage / Hannibal occupation during the 2nd Punic War AR Half-Shekel 216-211 BCE Tanit (Persephone / Demeter) - Horse SOLAR-O HN Italy 2016 SNG Cop 361-3
Another goddess whose attribute is the torch is Eileithyia. Wikipedia: "Eileithyia, along with Artemis and Persephone, is often shown carrying torches to bring children out of darkness and into light: in Roman mythology her counterpart in easing labor is Lucina ("of the light")." Example of a coin perhaps depicting Eileithyia: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=296905
I knew I had something for this thread, not a looker but it fits well. Pseudo Autonomous Ae - 1st - 3rd century ad, Perinthos, Thrace Obverse - Veiled head of Demeter, holding Poppy & Grain ear Reverse - Artemis Tauropolos walking Right holding 2 Torches
Ceres/Demeter with two torches: Faustina Senior, Augusta AD 138-141. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.81 g, 31.4 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 147-161. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: AVGVSTA, Ceres standing left, holding two torches. Refs: RIC 1120; BMCRE 1516; RCV 4625.
