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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Denominations| ▸ |Cistophori||View Options:  |  |  | 

Cistophori

The cistophorus was introduced at Pergamon sometime between 200 and 160 B.C. to provide the Attalid kingdom with a substitute for Seleucid coins and the tetradrachms of Philetairos. The denomination was also struck by other cities under Attalid control. The denomination owes its name to cista mystica, the sacred chest of Dionysus, on the obverse. It was valued at four drachms but weighed only 12.75 grams, as much as three Attic drachms (the most important weight standard of the time). Hoard evidence suggests that they did not travel outside the area which Pergamon controlled, indicating they were valued higher within that area. Cistophori continued to be minted and circulated down to the time of Hadrian, long after the kingdom was bequeathed to Rome in 133 B.C. The portrait of Augustus and later emperors replaced the cista on the obverse.

The cista mystica was a basket used for housing sacred snakes in connection with the initiation ceremony into the cult of Bacchus (Dionysus). In the Dionysian mysteries a snake, representing the god and possibly symbolic of his phallus, was carried in a cista mystica on a bed of vine leaves. The cista in the mysteries of Isis may also have held a serpent, perhaps associated with the missing phallus of Osiris.

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

|Claudius|, |Claudius,| |25| |January| |41| |-| |13| |October| |54| |A.D.,| |Ephesos,| |Ionia||cistophorus|
In 30/29 B.C., the Koinon of Asia and Bithynia requested permission to honor the Augustus as a living god. "Republican" Rome despised the worship of a living man, but an outright refusal might offend their loyal allies. A cautious formula was drawn up, non-Romans could establish cults and build temples for divus Augustus jointly with dea Roma. Communitas Asiae (Community of Asia) was pro-consular Roman province comprised of Lydia, Iconia, Caria, Mysia, Phrygia, and Hellespontus.
SL113456. Silver cistophorus, RPC Online I 2221, RIC I 120 (R3, Pergamon), RSC II 3, BMCRE I 228, SRCV I 1838, NGC F, strike 5/5, surface 3/5 (2400265-002), weight 10.53 g, maximum diameter 26 mm, die axis 180o, probably Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, 41 - 42 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVD CAES AVG, bare head left; reverse Temple of Roma and Augustus, two columns, podium with four steps, within temple Augustus and Roma stand facing, Augustus in military garb with spear in right hand and shield in left, Fortuna crowns him with wreath in right hand and holds cornucopia in left hand, ROM ET AVG (Roma and Augustus) on entablature, COM - ASI (Communitas Asiae) across field at center; from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 17 Jan 2013, $1695); NGC| Lookup; very rare; $1700.00 (€1598.00)
 


Amisos, Pontos, c. 85 - 65 B.C.

|Pontos|, |Amisos,| |Pontos,| |c.| |85| |-| |65| |B.C.||AE| |21|
Amisos was a rich commercial center under the kings of Pontus, a royal residence and fortress of Mithridates, and was the home of the fabled Amazons.
GB113960. Bronze AE 21, cf. SNG BM 1200; BMC Pontus, p. 17, 52; Rec Gen p. 65, 24; SGCV II 3640; HGC 7 243; SNG Stancomb -; SNGvA -, VF, green patina, tight flan, weight 7.324 g, maximum diameter 20.5 mm, die axis 0o, Amisos (Samsun, Turkey) mint, c. 85 - 65 B.C.; obverse head of Dionysos right (with the features of Mithradates VI?), wearing ivy-wreath; reverse cista mystica, on which rests panther skin and thyrsos, AMIΣOY below, no monogram; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Augustus, 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D.

|Cistophori|, |Augustus,| |16| |January| |27| |B.C.| |-| |19| |August| |14| |A.D.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
The cistophorus was first struck by the Pergamene Kingdom was a tetradrachm (four-drachms coin) struck on a reduced Asian standard of about 3 grams per drachm. Its name was derived from the cista, a Dionysian cult snake basket that frequently appeared on the obverse. After the Pergamene Kingdom was bequeathed to Rome in 133 B.C., the Romans continued to strike cistophori for the Asia province, with a value equal to three denarii. The portrait of Augustus and later emperors replaced the cista on the obverse.
SH85435. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Sutherland Group VI, RPC I 2213, RSC I 16, RIC I 477, BnF I 916, BMCRE I 696, BMCRR East 263, SRCV I -, VF, well centered, toned, light marks and scratches, weight 11.796 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 30o, Ephesus mint, c. 25 - 20 B.C.; obverse IMP CAE-SAR (counterclockwise below), bare head right, linear border; reverse capricorn right, head turned back left, cornucopia on its back, AVGVSTVS below, all within laurel wreath; SOLD


Mark Antony and Octavia, 39 B.C., Ephesos, Ionia

|Cistophori|, |Mark| |Antony| |and| |Octavia,| |39| |B.C.,| |Ephesos,| |Ionia||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Mark Antony is depicted on the obverse with the attributes of Dionysus.
SH24805. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, RPC I 2201, Cohen 2 (35 Fr.), Sydenham 1197, Sear CRI 262, gVF, obverse grainy, weight 12.001 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selcuk, Turkey) mint, obverse M ANTONIVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT, head of Antony right, wreathed in ivy, lituus below, all within wreath of ivy and grapes; reverse III VIR R P C, bust of Octavia right on cista flanked by snakes; SOLD


Tralleis, Lydia, 131 - 130 B.C.

|Cistophori|, |Tralleis,| |Lydia,| |131| |-| |130| |B.C.||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
On the slopes of Mount Messogis in the valley of the Meander, Tralles, was one of the largest and richest cities of Lydia. King Attalus had a splendid palace there. The local god was Zeus Larasios, but Apollo Pythius and other divinities were also worshiped. Tralles was destroyed by an earthquake but was rebuilt by Augustus and took the name of Caesarea.

The cista mystica was a basket used for housing sacred snakes in connection with the initiation ceremony into the cult of Bacchus (Dionysus). In the Dionysian mysteries a snake, representing the god and possibly symbolic of his phallus, was carried in a cista mystica on a bed of vine leaves.
SH64043. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Cohen DCA 353; BMC Lydia p. 332, 44 ff. (other years), SNGvA 3262 ff. (same); SNG Cop 662 - 663 (same); SNG Tüb -; SNG Munchen -, VF, weight 12.880 g, maximum diameter 28.2 mm, die axis 0o, Tralles (Aydýn, Turkey) mint, 131 - 130 B.C.; obverse Cista mystica with half open lid, from which a snake emerges left, all within ivy wreath; reverse two coiled serpents, heads erect, flanking ornamented bow-case, bow sticking out of case top left, Δ (year 4) over TPAΛ left, ΠTOΛ (magistrate) above case; Dionysos on right, standing right, holding thyrsos and mask of Silenos; ex Numismatik Lanz; scarce type, rare year; SOLD


Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D., Hierapolis, Phrygia

|Hierapolis|, |Hadrian,| |11| |August| |117| |-| |10| |July| |138| |A.D.,| |Hierapolis,| |Phrygia||cistophoric| |tetradrachm|
Stack's listing described this coin as "one of the finest extant specimens from this mint." That may be a bit of hyperbole, but it is a very nice coin with excellent provenance.

Hierapolis (Greek: "Holy City") was located on hot springs in Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale in Turkey and are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hot springs have been used as a spa since the 2nd century B.C., with many patrons retiring or dying there. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi.
SH68895. Silver cistophoric tetradrachm, Metcalf Cistophori type 53, pl. 16, 241 (this coin), Pinder 61, RIC II 482, BMCRE II 1054; RSC II 285, SNGvA 6617, VF, full circle centering, overstruck, weight 10.826 g, maximum diameter 29.3 mm, die axis 180o, Phrygia, Hierapolis (near Pamukkale, Turkey) mint, 129 - 130 A.D.; obverse HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, bare-headed bust right, drapery on left shoulder; reverse COS III, laureate Apollo wearing the robe of a citharoedus, standing front, plectrum in right, cithara (lyre) in left; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Stack's Bowers and Ponterio sale 173 (NYINC, 11 Jan 2013) lot 5118, ex Hirsch 24 (10 May 1909), lot 1393; SOLD


Julia Titi, Augusta c. 79 - 89 A.D. Ephesos Ionia, Ancient Counterfeit

|Julia| |Titi|, |Julia| |Titi,| |Augusta| |c.| |79| |-| |89| |A.D.| |Ephesos| |Ionia,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||cistophorus|
Julia Titi was the daughter of the Emperor Titus, and although married, she had an affair with her uncle Domitian. In 83 A.D., Domitian divorced his wife and lived openly with her. It has been said that she died because Domitian forced her to have an abortion but modern research indicates this allegation is false.
RS94294. Fouree silver plated cistophorus, cf. RIC II-1 p. 330, D848, RPC II 871, BMCRE 258 (official prototype, solid silver, very rare), F, gaps in silver plate, scratches, potentially active corrosion, weight 9.560 g, maximum diameter 25.5 mm, die axis 180o, unofficial counterfeiter's mint, 81 - 90 A.D.; obverse IVLIA AVGVSTA DIVI TITI F, draped bust right, hair in a knot in back; reverse Vesta seated left, palladium in right hand, scepter in left hand, VESTA in exergue; SOLD


Tralleis, Lydia, 2nd Century B.C.

|Tralleis|, |Tralleis,| |Lydia,| |2nd| |Century| |B.C.||cistophoric| |drachm|
GS81490. Silver cistophoric drachm, cf. BMC Lydia p. 332, 43 (uncertain symbol); cf. p. 333, 50 for this symbol on a Proconsular tetradrachm; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -; Weber -; et al. -, VF, weight 2.799 g, maximum diameter 16.8 mm, die axis 0o, Tralles (Aydýn, Turkey) mint, 2nd century B.C.; obverse lion-skin hanging over club, all in vine-wreath; reverse TΠ, bunch of grapes laying upon vine-leaf, humped bull on Maeander pattern right; extremely rare; perhaps unpublished; SOLD







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REFERENCES|

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