I had never heard of the Conventus of Sardis, nor of the fair city of Cadi. But this coin came into my hands and I was intrigued. It is from the empress Tranquillina, 'the quiet one', the wife of young and promising emperor Gordian III. By accident I found it on RPC online, vol. VII.1, nr. 215. Here it is called an AE29 of the Conventus of Sardis, town Cadi. That fits: 29 mm, 9.80 gr. The obverse shows her portrait with the text ΦΟΥ ϹΑΒ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΙΝΑ, the reverse interestingly two Nemeseis, nemesises, the goddesses of Revenge. Unfortunately, I can't see what they are up to because the coin is not clear enough. There's a lot of text, ΚΑΔΟΗΝΩΝ ƐΠΙ ΑΥΡ ΚΛƐΟΠΑΤΟΡΟϹ Β ΑΡΧΟ, mentioning the archon Aurelius Cleopatorus ('B' or 2, for the second time), ΚΑΔΟΗΝΩΝ ('Kadoènon') meaning Of the Cadoans. So this is a coin with a pretty portrait of a rare town with a nice reverse! Sorry, the pic is not great.
Neat coin, Pellinore! These twin Nemeseis (of Smyrna) seem to have really gotten around. Here they are on an A-Pi drachm, flanking Apollo Didymeus. I haven't dug up anything on why this type was used at Alexandria, and apparently only for a few years during Pius's reign. ANTONINUS PIUS AE Drachm. 24.25g, 33.5mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 10 = AD 146/7. RPC Online temp 13590; Emmett 1457; Dattari Savio 8311-12. O: ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝƐΙΝΟС СƐΒ ƐVС, laureate head right. R: Apollo Didymeus (of Miletus) standing, facing, holding stag and bow, tripod at feet; between the Nemeseis of Smyrna, one on right holding cubit-rule; L ΔƐΚΑΤΟV in exergue. Ex Dr Walter Neussel Collection The twin Nemeseis type I would love to have is this one, which has an amazing reverse that shows the goddesses gossiping over a sleeping Alexander the Great. You can just imagine them going, "Huh... I thought he would be taller."
There was a cult in Smyrna where two Nemeseis were worshiped and not just a single Nemesis. Coins from this region often depict the two goddesses spitting into their bosom (to ward off bad luck). Yours are posed quite differently, however, from this coin of Smyrna depicting the two Nemeseis with their attributes (bridle and rod), pulling their chitons and spitting onto their bosoms.
Here is a post I wrote about Nemesis, based upon my translation of an ancient Greek hymn to the goddess.
Neat coins! I really dig the double Nemesis versions! I picked up this Postumus at a coin show last month (the only ancient I got), rough and a scraggly flan, by I think Nemesis looks pretty good. Postumus Antoninianus, 260-269 AD O:Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: Rev: IMP X COS V, Nemesis wtih palmbranch in left hand. 20 mm, 3.3g. I did a great job on the picture, if I don't say so myself.
Thanks very much for all your nice Nemeseis! Spitting into one's bosom, a curious habit, and that for a goddess.
