Author Topic: Naughty Cupids OTD (Read 4628 times)

Rupert · « **on:** December 01, 2009, 12:05:53 pm »

Hello friends,

As some of you may know, Provincial coins are not my special subject at all. However, sometimes I'm active in this field too when a coin appeals to me and none of the specialists beats me to it. So here's my latest acquisition, with a good portrait (very close to Roman style) and a charming reverse, IMHO.

AE18, Caracalla, Serdica / Thrace
Obv. AVTK M AVP CEV - ANTWNEINOC
Laureate head right
Rev. CEP - DWN
Two winged, naked cupids playing
Diameter 18 mm, weight 4.00 g, die axis 1 o'clock
Slightly corroded surfaces, otherwise good VF

I'm open to suggestions as to what the two Cupids are playing here but only if this doesn't violate the rules of this board

.

Rupert

David Atherton · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2009, 12:34:07 pm »

Hopefully the cupids are playing some form of leapfrog! Parenthetically, it would be interesting to know what games were known to the Romans and what ones were not.

Very interesting coin with a decent portrait and patina.

Congrats!

areich · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2009, 12:56:43 pm »

You know when that modern fake was discussed where the cupids were doing something more explicit?
In that context this depiction looked sexual as well but by itself I'm sure it's something innocent.
A great find.

ancientdave · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2009, 12:58:09 pm »

Hut, Hut, Hike! Very interesting coin, thanks for sharing.

Danny S. Jones · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2009, 01:06:28 pm »

I needed a good laugh today, Rupert! Thanks. Interesting coin, by the way. One I've never seen and know absolutely nothing about. That said, I'll give you my "expert" opinion.

I'd say that it's either:

A. A center hiking the football to the quarterback
B. A rubber glove exam at the proctologist
C. The losing team in "truth or dare"
D. Pin the tail on the donkey

LOL,
Danny

areich · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2009, 01:42:48 pm »

Here's the other one, a modern fake:
http://www.ancients.info/forums/showthread.php?t=2271

slokind · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2009, 08:10:09 pm »

Are we sure that the Lanz coin is purely a fake? Is it not rather something like, well, child abuse. Poor baby, little Serdica coin!
The type is HrJ Serdica no. 12.18.16.10 on p. 89. It shows two die pairs, one of which might be "funny", but I can't tell from the 1:1 images, whether the lesser of them might be bogus.
I bet anything it really is playing Leapfrog. I'll see what my Bulgarian dictionary can do with their description.
Anyway, yours surely looks fine to me.
Pat L.
Nina and Dinko just say "Two playing erotes".
I think paniskoi or satyriskoi would have been used to show playing katapygôn, for which infant erotes are too immature.

Pscipio · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2009, 01:26:09 am »

I don't doubt it is a modern fake, the portrait style is completely wrong for Serdica, and the reverse scene has been changed to make it look "more interesting". Rupert's nice specimen shows there is no phallus involved, as does the well preserved Helios coin. I actually think Lanz withdraw their coin prior to the auction.

Lars

Jochen · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2009, 04:30:32 am »

Rupert's coin is from the same dies like the coin of Hristova/Jekov which Pat has cited! There are two other types pictured. But because of their thumbnail size I can't see much details.

Best regards

mix_val · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2009, 10:49:09 am »

What a great coin! lol

Barabus · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2009, 01:44:53 pm »

Playing leapfrog for cupids is perfect for the comical winged cupids since they can fly!

nikos k · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2009, 05:52:08 am »

Very interesting type!

slokind · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2009, 07:30:57 pm »

Though I'm almost certain I've seen children playing leapfrog, not only ephedrismos, in Greek and Roman art, I haven't found the pictures. The problem is that search engines come up with all sorts of stuff, for many different purposes. For example, under Children's Games in painting or in figurines there was too much to wade through. The best I found was this list:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=children's+games+sarcophagi&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
and in the list the expensive 1996 book by Janet Huskinson (OUP).
'Terracotta figurines' is very possible, but horrid to search. But I think there something from Pompeii?
Pat L.

Potator II · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2009, 03:08:31 am »

Playing leapfrog seems to be a permanent game for cupids through History : songs relate it and even modern figurines as shown below. Nothing strange thus

Jochen · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2009, 06:40:22 am »

I think 'leapfrog' naturally has an erotical (or even sexual) touch. Isn't it?

Best regards

Danny S. Jones · « **Reply #15 on:** December 04, 2009, 07:39:59 am »

Quote from: Jochen on December 04, 2009, 06:40:22 am

I think 'leapfrog' naturally has an erotical (or even sexual) touch. Isn't it?

Best regards

Don't tell my kids that! I would look at it as a cute, childlike, playful game. If it's not, just let me live in my blissful ignorance.

areich · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2009, 08:14:37 am »

It wasn't when we played it. Later when it might have been we didn't play it anymore.

Jochen · « **Reply #17 on:** December 04, 2009, 08:21:43 am »

Enodia · « **Reply #18 on:** June 05, 2012, 04:17:12 am »

right foot blue!

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Author Topic: Naughty Cupids OTD (Read 4628 times)

nikos k