?Geta/cult statue of Artemis?

[laney]

AE 16.5 mm, 3.88 g

This has the appearance of Geta with an Artemis Ephesus statue reverse.  There are a few cities with similar types, but this one doesn't match very well, with what little I can see of the legend or distribution of letters, or with the angle of the reverse figure's arms.  Thanks much for any help with ID and attribution.

Laney

[Meepzorp]

Hi laney,

Have you considered the possibility that the reverse may depict a female figure (or cult statue) holding 2 torches?

I found similar coins minted in Lydia, Maeonia. But there is no "smoking gun". For comparison purposes, if you look at Wildwinds, there is a coin minted by Nero (RPC 3013) that has a reverse that looks somewhat like yours.

Aspendos and Crete/Cyprus also minted coins depicting a cult statue (or 2) on the reverse.

Meepzorp

[laney]

Hi Meepzorp.  The reverse is indeed more like that of my coin than others that I've seen.  In fact, the portrait bears similarity to some other Lydia coins of Nero.  I had not looked at Maeonia, and got fixated on Geta because of similar reverses with Artemis.  I think your suggestion is quite sound. 
Thank you.

Laney

[Joe Sermarini]

A female figure holding two torches would be Demeter/Ceres.

[Pekka K]

Yes, possibly this: http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=5486

Pekka K

[Joe Sermarini]

I didn't know that Hekate is also depicted carrying two torches...

Hekate (Hecate) was a goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy...Hekate assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone, guiding her through the night with flaming torches. After the mother-daughter reunion became she Persephone's minister and companion in Haides.

-- http://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Hekate.html

[laney]

To All--

Thank you for this great information.  I believe that it is RPC 3041, having found another example that better shows similarities in legend to my coin--and that allows the ski poles to be better identified as torches.  So Nero/Hekate, Philadelphia mint is what I'll go with.  Thanks again.

Laney