FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Roman Provincial Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Jochen on December 01, 2021, 09:21:51 am
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Dear friends of ancient coins!
15 years ago I got this rare coin:
Coin #1
Moesia inferior, Nikopolis ad Istrum, Commodus, AD 177-192
AE 16, 2.73g, 16.20mm, 315°
obv. [AV] M AVRH - KOMMO[DOC]
laureate head r.
rev. NEIKOPOLI
in ex. in 2 lines: PROC I - C / T[RON]
Herakles, nude, resting l. on lion's skin, holding club beneath
ref. a) not in AMNG
b) not in Varbanov
c) Hristova-Hoeft-Jekov (2020) No. 8.10.14.4 (plate coin)
obv. e.g. No. 8.10.8.3 (same die)
very rare, F+/VF-, stripped
Curtis Clay has written:
Reminiscent of the type of Eros reclining r. on lion's skin (?), holding torch almost horizontally beneath him, known at Nicopolis for Caracalla Caesar and Julia Domna, AMNG 1468 and 1489, pl. XVI.4. There, however, one of Eros' wings is clearly visible above him. I'm not sure Eros is meant under Commodus too, since the all-important wing isn't visible.
Pat Lawrence has written:
Where did I read that the Caracalla Eros Æ21 (Caesar) is as Eros also known elsewhere where Eros is playing Herakles, and is here sleeping as a very weary Herakles from all his Labors? So both answers may be true, or the wing (given Commodus's die engraver) might just not show. (Pat Lawrence)
Yesterday I got this coin:
Coin #2
Moesia inferior, Nikopolis ad Istrum, Commodus, AD 177-192
AE 17, 3.89g
obv.: [AV M A]VRH - KOMODOC
Laureate head r.
rev.: NEIKOPOLI
in ex. in 2 lines: PROC I - C / TRON
Eros, nude, winged, with legs drawn up, rests head in left hand.
In front of him the torch (or quiver?); holding in right hand an arrow(?), which
causes the gap between PROC and I (Then it would not be a torch, but rather a
quiver.)
ref.: a) not in AMNG
b) not in Varbanov
c) not in Hristova-Hoeft-Jekov (2020):
rev. not listed
obv. e.g. 8.10.14.4
probably unpublished
VF
Pedigree:
ex Gorny&Mosch auction 265, Lot 726
ex coll. Erwin Link
(1) The obv. of both coins is from the same die.
(2) The rev. legend of both coins is identical, see the gap between PROC and I in exergue.
(3) The depiction on the reverse of both coins is very similar.
I do not believe that the die cutter cut the rev. legend so accurately a second time. This leaves only the possibility that the image on the reverse has been altered. Be it a forgery or a new type.
The question that then arises is: which depiction was first?
If we look at #2, we see that the right leg is missing. It is easy to remove it. After that, the left leg has become the right leg and the underlay of Herakles has become the left leg. So Herakles now looks like little Eros in a kind of embryonic position. After that, coin #1 would be the original coin and coin #2 would be the imitated one.
But the torch at his side, which is amazingly well done, does not fit. Material would have had to be added to it. And that is not so easy.
And what is the object that figure holds in his right hand?
What do you think about these two coins? Any answer welcome!
With thanks in advance
Jochen