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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Gods, Olympians| ▸ |Demeter or Ceres||View Options:  |  |  |   

Demeter or Ceres

The known mythology of Demeter and Ceres is identical. Demeter's (Ceres') virgin daughter Persephone (Proserpina) was abducted by Hades (Pluto) to be his wife in the underworld. Demeter searched for her endlessly, lighting her way through the earth with torches. While Demeter searched, preoccupied with her loss and her grief, the seasons halted; living things ceased their growth, then began to die. Some say that in her anger she laid a curse that caused plants to wither and die, and the land to become desolate. Faced with the extinction of all life on earth, Zeus (Jupiter) sent his messenger Hermes (Mercury) to the underworld to bring Persephone back. However, because Persephone had eaten while in the underworld, Hades had a claim on her. It was decreed that she must spend four months each year in the underworld. During these months Demeter grieves for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the world, creating winter. Persephone's return brings the spring.

Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D., Mostene, Lydia

|Other| |Lydia|, |Marcus| |Aurelius,| |7| |March| |161| |-| |17| |March| |180| |A.D.,| |Mostene,| |Lydia||AE| |35|
Mostene, in ancient Lydia, prospered in Roman and Byzantine eras. There is debate, based on a line in Tacitus, over whether Mostene was a Macedonian colony or a native Lydian city. In 17 A.D. the city was hit by an earthquake and was assisted by relief from Tiberius.
RP113182. Bronze AE 35, Apparently unpublished; GRPC Lydia -, RPC Online IV -, F, dark green patina, earthen deposits, marks, pit lower right, weight 21.592 g, maximum diameter 35.3 mm, die axis 180o, Mostene (Kepecik, Turkey) mint, c. 161 - 162 A.D.; obverse AVT K M AVPH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EΠI AΛEΞANΔPOY APX ΛYΔ MOCTHNΩN (authority of Alexandros, archon, Mostene), Demeter, holding grain and torch?; from the Michael Arslan Collection, ex Solidus auction 123 (25 Jul 2023), lot 359 (part of); the only known specimen; extremely rare; $250.00 SALE PRICE $225.00
 


Julia Mamaea, Augusta, 222 – 235 A.D., Nicomedia, Bithynia

|Bithynia|, |Julia| |Mamaea,| |Augusta,| |222| |–| |235| |A.D.,| |Nicomedia,| |Bithynia||assarion|
The referenced coin, RPC Online VI T3432 = Rec Gén 334, is the only known specimen of this type and RPC notes, "Tooled, likely not belonging to Nicomedia." The present coin confirms attribution to Nicomedia. Furthermore, this type for Julia Mamaea nicely complements the Severus Alexander issue with the same reverse (RPC Online VI T3435).
RP113006. Bronze assarion, RPC Online VI T3432 corr. (legends), Rec Gén 334 corr. (same), F, green patina, weight 3.540 g, maximum diameter 18.4 mm, die axis 210o, Nicomedia (Izmit, Turkey) mint, group 1b, 222 – 235 A.D.; obverse IOVΛIA MΑMAIA CEBAC, draped bust right; reverse NIKOMHΔEΩN ΔIC NEΩKOPΩN, veiled and draped bust of Demeter right, wearing stephane, stalks of grain before her; 2nd known and the best of the type known to FORVM; extremely rare!; $180.00 SALE PRICE $162.00
 


Tomis, Moesia Inferior, c. 138 - 192 A.D.

|Tomis|, |Tomis,| |Moesia| |Inferior,| |c.| |138| |-| |192| |A.D.||AE| |18|
Tomis (Constanta, Romania today) was founded by Greek colonists around 600 B.C. on the Black Sea shore for trade with the local Getic population. The Roman poet Ovid was banished by Augustus to Tomis in 8 A.D. and died there eight years later. By his account, Tomis was "a town located in a war-stricken cultural wasteland on the remotest margins of the empire."
RP113334. Bronze AE 18, RPC Online IV.1 T4474 (3 spec.), SNG Stancomb 889, AMNG I/II 2540, aVF, broad flan, attractive style, uneven strike with weak areas, reverse off center, corrosion, flan crack, weight 3.340 g, maximum diameter 17.9 mm, die axis 0o, Tomis (Constanta, Romania) mint, c. 138 - 192 A.D.; obverse veiled and draped bust of Demeter right, torch, poppy and grain ears before her; reverse Dionysos standing left half left, kantharos in right hand, thyrsus vertical in left hand, TO-MI/TW-N in two divided lines across field; ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection, ex FORVM (2019); rare; $125.00 SALE PRICE $113.00
 


Julia Domna, Augusta 194 - 8 April 217 A.D.

|Julia| |Domna|, |Julia| |Domna,| |Augusta| |194| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.||dupondius|NEW
[Claudius AE32 Dupondius Rome Mint 50-54 AD Ceres Seated On Throne] NEW Ceres' known mythology is indistinguishable from Demeter's. Her virgin daughter Proserpina (Persephone) was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the underworld. Ceres searched for her endlessly lighting her way through the earth with torches. While Ceres (Demeter) searched, she was preoccupied with her loss and her grief. The seasons halted; living things ceased their growth, then began to die. Some say that in her anger she laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, and the land to become desolate. Faced with the extinction of all life on earth, Zeus sent his messenger Hermes to the underworld to bring Proserpina back. However, because she had eaten while in the underworld, Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that she would spend four months each year in the underworld. During these months Ceres grieves for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the world, creating winter. Proserpina's return brings the spring.
RB114025. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC IV p. 311, C596 (S); BMCRE V p. 471, C220; Cohen IV 13, SRCV II 7126, VF, well centered, green patina, rough/porosity, weight 11.271 g, maximum diameter 26.7 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 211 - 217 A.D.; obverse IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right, hair in waved horizontal ridges, looped plait on neck; reverse CEREREM, Ceres standing facing, head left, corn-ears in right hand held over modius at feet left, long scepter in left hand, S - C (senatus consulto) divided across field; scarce; $125.00 SALE PRICE $113.00
 


Pergamon, Mysia, c. 40 - 60 A.D.

|Pergamon|, |Pergamon,| |Mysia,| |c.| |40| |-| |60| |A.D.||AE| |18|
Interesting autonomous series which does not bear the name of the issuing city; however, a large hoard of these coins was found near Pergamon in 1827.
RP113541. Bronze AE 18, RPC Online I 2375 (13 spec.); BMC Mysia p. 134, 211; SNG BnF -; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -, VF, dark green patina, off center, earthen deposits, weight 2.948 g, maximum diameter 17.5 mm, die axis 0o, Pergamon (Bergama, Turkey) mint, c. 40 - 60 A.D.; obverse ΘEON CYN-KΛHTON, draped bust of the Senate right, linear border; reverse ΘEAN PΩ-MHN (clockwise from upper right), turreted and draped bust of Roma right, lituus right below chin, linear border; $90.00 SALE PRICE $81.00
 


Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D.

|Claudius|, |Claudius,| |25| |January| |41| |-| |13| |October| |54| |A.D.||dupondius|NEW
Ceres' known mythology is indistinguishable from Demeter's. Her virgin daughter Proserpina (Persephone) was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the underworld. Ceres searched for her endlessly lighting her way through the earth with torches. While Ceres (Demeter) searched, she was preoccupied with her loss and her grief. The seasons halted; living things ceased their growth, then began to die. Some say that in her anger she laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, and the land to become desolate. Faced with the extinction of all life on earth, Zeus sent his messenger Hermes to the underworld to bring Proserpina back. However, because she had eaten while in the underworld, Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that she would spend four months each year in the underworld. During these months Ceres grieves for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the world, creating winter. Proserpina's return brings the spring.
MA114413. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC I 110, BMCRE I 197, BnF II 222, Hunter I 84, Cohen I 1, SRCV I 1856, Fine/Fair, green patina, broad flan, pitting, weight 15.538 g, maximum diameter 31.6 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 50 - 54 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, bare head left; reverse CERES AVGVSTA, Ceres seated left on ornamented throne, veiled, two stalks grain in right hand, torch across lap cradled in left hand and arm, feet on footstool, S C (senatus consulto) in exergue; big 32mm bronze!; $70.00 SALE PRICE $63.00
 


Kibyra, Phrygia, c. 138 - 192 A.D.

|Other| |Phrygia|, |Kibyra,| |Phrygia,| |c.| |138| |-| |192| |A.D.||AE| |21|
Kibyra (Cibyra) near the modern town of Gölhisar in south-west Turkey, was possibly originally settled by Lydians. The city was in the far south of Phrygia adjoining Lycia. It is uncertain whether the city was part of the Province of Asia or of Lycia in the early imperial period. According to Strabo, the Lydian language was still being spoken by a multicultural population in the 1st century B.C. Thus Kibyra was the last place where the Lydian culture, by then extinct in Lydia proper, persevered.
RP110161. Bronze AE 21, RPC IV.2 T1953 (10 spec.); Kurth Demos 358; SNG Cop 276; SNGvA 3724; BMC Phrygia p. 135, 25; SNG Mu -; Lindgren -, aVF/VF, dark green patina, rough, porous, earthen deposits, broad flan, weight 6.631 g, maximum diameter 22.3 mm, die axis 180o, Kibyra (near Golhisar, Turkey) mint, c. 138 - 192 A.D.; obverse ΔHMOC (clockwise from upper right), laureate head of Demos right, unbearded; reverse KIBYPATWN, Demeter standing slightly left, head left, wearing long chiton and veil, poppy and grain in right hand, long torch in left hand; rare; $50.00 SALE PRICE $45.00
 


Philadelphia, Arabia Petraea, 164 - 165 A.D.

|Roman| |Arabia|, |Philadelphia,| |Arabia| |Petraea,| |164| |-| |165| |A.D.||AE| |17|
Rabbath-Ammon of the Old Testament, was renamed Philadelphia by Ptolemy II Philadelphus, and is today Amman, Jordan. Genesis identifies the Ammonites as descendants of Ben-ammi, who was born of an incestuous union between a drunken Lot and his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38). The Israelite Jephthah crossed the Jordan River "to attack the Ammonites, and the Lord delivered them into his hands" (Judges 11:32). Before the battle, he swore an oath that, for victory, he would sacrifice the first thing to greet him when he returned home - it was his daughter, his his only child, who came out to meet him with tambourines and dancing. At the sight of her, he tore his clothes and said, "Oh, my daughter, you have broken my heart!" and he fulfilled the vow he had made (Judges 11:34-39).
GB110783. Bronze AE 17, RPC Online IV.3 6656.4; Sofaer 8; SNG ANS 1379; Spijkerman 3; Rosenberger 28; BMC Arabia p. 37, 2; Meshorer City Coins 257, aF, dark brown patina, earthen deposits, porosity, edge cracks, weight 3.190 g, maximum diameter 17.1 mm, die axis 0o, Philadelphia (Amman, Jordan) mint, rule of Marcus Aurelius, 164 - 165 A.D.; obverse ΦIΛ KOI CYPI, wreathed in grain, veiled and draped bust of Demeter right, two stalks of grain before her; reverse ETOYC ZKC (year 277 [of the Pompeian Era]), two snakes with two stalks of grain between them, rising from cista mystica (wicker basket); Coin Archives records only one specimen of the type at auction in the last two decades; rare; $50.00 SALE PRICE $45.00
 


Knidos, Caria, 1st Century B.C.

|Knidos|, |Knidos,| |Caria,| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||AE| |32|
Based on only the single worn example known to the authors, RPC I attributed this type to Livia from an uncertain mint. Based on the Mabbott coin with a clear poppy on the obverse and ethnic on the reverse, the RPC I Supplement corrected the attribution to Demeter and Knidos. Similar countermarks are known on coins from Chalkis, Laodicea, Antioch, Selucia, and Damascus, cities under the control of Cleopatra. We believe it is her portrait. Cleopatra and Marc Antony spent considerable romantic time together around Knidos. It is said that Marc Antony sent ships to the Nile to retrieve sand for a beach, which is known today as Cleopatra's Beach. Click here to read about this coin on NumisWiki.

RP21181. Bronze AE 32, RPC I 5436 (1 example known to RPC, attributed to Livia, 2nd example and corrected to Demeter in supplement), F, countermark VF, weight 17.192 g, maximum diameter 32.1 mm, die axis 0o, Knidos (near Tekir, Turkey) mint, 1st century B.C.; obverse veiled and diademed bust of Demeter right [holding poppy], oval countermark of Cleopatra VII? right; reverse KNI..., Nike advancing left with wreath and palm; rare; SOLD


Knidos, Caria, c. 100 - 40 B.C.

|Knidos|, |Knidos,| |Caria,| |c.| |100| |-| |40| |B.C.||AE| |32|
This type struck by this magistrate appears to be unpublished and we do not know another example. The referenced similar type struck under the magistrate Apollonios is also extremely rare with only a few known examples. Similar countermarks are known on coins from Chalkis, Laodicea, Antioch, Selucia, and Damascus, cities under the control of Cleopatra. We believe it is her portrait. Cleopatra and Marc Antony spent considerable romantic time together around Knidos. It is said that Marc Antony sent ships to the Nile to retrieve sand for a beach, which is known today as Cleopatra's Beach.
RP76800. Bronze AE 32, Apparently unpublished; cf. Mabbott 1715 (magistrate), RPC I suppl. 5436 (same); SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, SNG Munchen -, SNG Tüb -, SNG Keckman -, aF, porous, scratches, corrosion, weight 18.277 g, maximum diameter 31.6 mm, die axis 0o, Knidos (near Tekir, Turkey) mint, c. 100 - 40 B.C.; countermark: c. 36 - 30 B.C.; obverse veiled and diademed bust of Demeter right, poppy before her (covered by countermark), oval countermark: female head (Cleopatra VII?) right; reverse Nike advancing left, wreath in extended right hand, palm frond in left hand, MOΣXΩN (magistrate's name) downward on left, KNIΔIΩN downward on right; one of only two known, the other without the countermark!; SOLD




  



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