Zodiac Drachm: Helios in Leo

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by zumbly, Sep 14, 2017.

  1. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    A couple of days ago the postman brought me one of my favorite purchases so far this year, an Alexandria mint drachm from the "Zodiac series" of Antoninus Pius's 8th regnal year. Emmett calls this series "one of the more remarkable iconographic programs in the entire scope of Greek or Roman coinage", and indeed, its growing popularity with collectors has up until now made it difficult for me to acquire even a single example of any of the twelve available types (and that's not even counting the very rare ones featuring the entire "Zodiac Wheel").

    This "Helios in Leo" is the most common in the series, but it's also quite a nice example, and it was offered at a price that allowed for no hesitation on my part. I scrambled to order it right after I saw it and am very pleased with how it looks in-hand.

    This is a set that I'm not realistically going to complete as some of the rarer types are currently selling for over a thousand dollars in positively awful condition (awful even for me), but I'll nevertheless be continuing to look out for the other parts of the "Wheel".

    Please share 'em if you have 'em!

    Antoninus Pius - Drachm Zodiac Leo Helios.jpg
    ANTONINUS PIUS
    AE Drachm. 24.39g, 35mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 8 = AD 144/5. Emmett 1530; Dattari 2968; RPC Online 13547 (31 spec). O: Laureate head right. R: Helios in Leo: Lion (Leo) running right, radiate and draped bust of Helios and star above; L H below.
    Acquired from Warren Esty (Sep 2017); Ex CNG E-sale 125 (26 Oct 2005), Lot 155
     
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  3. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Oh cool! Very sweet score.
     
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  4. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    It might be worn but you can make out Pius bust and reverse details quite well, it's a case like I have been thinking lately in as much it's better to have a worn Drachm at a reasonable price than an overpriced hard to even get in slightly better preservation. Congrats Zumbly (stevex6 would be proud of you)
     
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  5. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Thanks... I do think he would approve :). The majority of these are worn and many have cracks and surface problems (take your pick of rough, pitted, BD). Those that avoid these issues can really hurt the wallet. I'm glad I'm not a specialist!
     
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  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I don't even have one at all, but I need to start looking into rectifying that. Yours is a good example. Congrats.
     
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  7. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    But, but... surely you have at least a dozen more Legionary denarii to collect, Bing! Yessiree, focus is a good thing :angelic:...
     
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  8. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    I lack any of the 'Zodiac Series' but that's a nice example of a very cool area of focus!
     
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  9. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Those big drachms of Alexandria definitely are cool. Don't have any yet but I'll keep my eyes open.
     
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  10. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

  11. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice find, Z.
     
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  12. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Thanks for the kind comments, guys.
     
  13. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Very good !
    Now an idea for another subset comes to mind.....hmmmm !!!

    Just kidding
    Q
     
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  14. Carausius

    Carausius Brother, can you spare a sestertius?

    Beautiful "budget" example of a terrific type. Well bought, Z!
     
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  15. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Thanks! This is the sort of set I'd be happy to add an example to every few years, without any illusion of ever finishing it. It's a focus of sorts, just on the journey rather than the ultimate destination :D.
     
  16. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    This is from the CNG website, a zodiac example of Helios in Leo (OP coin) recently sold for $4500. Since I am still looking for a zodiac drachm (especially the one with the complete "wheel" I thought I'd share some info...

    Alexandria saw an immense output of coinage during the eighth year of Antoninus Pius. The Zodiac drachms, mythological types, and a host of issues for the nomes appeared that year. One explanation for this activity centers on the celebration of the renewal of the Great Sothic cycle, the point when the star Sothis (Sirius) rises on the same point on the horizon as the sun. This cycle of 1461 years began again in AD 139, and apparently prompted a renewal in the ancient Egyptian religion and its connections within the Greco-Roman Pantheon.

    Yet the Zodiac drachms were not the only exceptional issues struck in Egypt at this time. The popular series of the Labors of Hercules, beginning in Pius’ year four, is a marked departure from the normally staid nature of Romano-Egyptian coinage. Perhaps even more dramatic are the handful of mythological types: the Judgement of Paris, appearing in years five and seven, and Lykurgos cutting the vines in year eight. Milne (p. xxxii) hypothesizes that these exceptional types can be attributed to a temporary influx of artistic talent into the Alexandrian mint.

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Wow! That's quite a score, @zumbly!

    I don't know much about this coin, but I can't help but think the reverse of this coin refers to the constellation Leo:

    [​IMG]
    Greek Ionia, Miletos.
    AE Hemiobol, 3.35 g, 18.3 mm, 12 h.
    Aeschylinos, magistrate, ca. 200 BC.
    Obv: Apollo Didymeus standing right, holding small stag and bow; monogram below.
    Rev: Lion seated right with head turned to left, star above, monogram right, ΑIΣXΥΛΙΝΟΥ in exergue.
    Refs: Deppert 941-56 var; Marcellesi 56.
     
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  18. Broucheion

    Broucheion Well-Known Member

    Hi All,

    Wonderful coins all!. I love this series so here's one I haven't posted before plus links to ones I have.

    upload_2021-4-10_13-49-5.png

    Above, another Sun in Leo. Below, a previously posted Alexandrian zodiac wheel coin plus a few from specific zodiacal houses (including dupes)

    Wheel

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/centaur-sagittarius.363872/#post-4664715

    Houses

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/show-us-your-lions.357044/page-3#post-4277919

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/sh...-beautiful-bovines.357200/page-2#post-4284283

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/mission-to-mars.363491/#post-4639799

    - Broucheion
     
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