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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Gods, Non-Olympian| ▸ |Serapis||View Options:   | | | |
RPC I quotes Walker’s surface analysis of Claudius billon at 21 - 26% silver, a significant drop from the 30% silver for those of Tiberius.
The ancients did not all agree on the attributes of Serapis. A passage in Tacitus affirms that many recognized in this god, Aesculapius, imputing healing to his intervention; some thought him identical with Osiris, the oldest deity of the Egyptians; others regarded him as Jupiter, possessing universal power; but by most he was believed to be the same as Pluto, the "gloomy" Dis Pater of the infernal regions. The general impression of the ancients seems to have been that by Serapis, was to be understood the beginning and foundation of things. Julian II consulted the oracle of Apollo for the purpose of learning whether Pluto and Serapis were different gods; and he received for an answer that Jupiter-Serapis and Pluto were one and the same divinity.SH110653. Billon drachm, RPC I 5136 (4 spec.); BMC Alexandria p. 10, 78; Kampmann 12.25; Emmett 76/3 (R4); Geissen -; Dattari -; SNG Hunterian -, F, dark patina, earthen deposits, scratches, porosity, weight 3.330 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 42 - 43 A.D.; obverse TI KΛ KA CE AY, laureate head right, L Γ (year 3) right; reverse draped bust of Serapis right, kalathos on head; the best of this type known to FORVM; very rare;
Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D., Caesarea Maritima, Samaria, Syria Palestina
Kadman Caesarea plate V, 53 is from the same dies. No other examples know to FORVM are from the same dies. Kadman listed it as otherwise unpublished, attributed it to Lucius Verus and read the obverse legend as IMP CAES L AVR VERVS AVG ARM. This portrait does favor Lucius Verus. On the Kadman coin the legend clearly starts IMP CAES but the rest is obscure (at least in the photo). On our coin the right side legend is much clearer and certainly ends ONINVS AVG. The combined legible obverse legend is IMP CAES [... ANT]ONINVS AVG, appropriate for Marcus Aurelius.RP111377. Bronze AE 25, RPC Online IV.3 T6318, BMC Palestine p. 22, 83 ff.; SNG ANS 778 f.; SNG Righetti 2383; SNG Hunt II 3560; Kadman I pl. V, 53, aVF, nice dark green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, tight flan, obv. off center, small edge split, weight 14.564 g, maximum diameter 24.9 mm, die axis 0o, Caesarea Maritima (Keisaria, Israel) mint, 7 Mar 161 - 17 Mar 180 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG (all As shaped as ANT), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse COL PRIMAE FL AVG CAESAR, draped bust of Serapis right, wearing kalathos;
Maximinus II Daia, May 310 - 30 April 313 A.D.
In Roman religion, every man has a genius, a presiding spirit. In De Die Natali, Censorinus says, from the moment we are born, we live under the guard and tutelage of Genius. Cities, organizations, and peoples also had a genius. On coins, we find inscriptions to the Genius of the Army, of the Senate, of the Roman People, etc. The legend GENIO AVGVSTI dedicates this coin to the Genius of the Augusti, the Emperors.RL94872. Billon follis, RIC VI Alexandria 162b, SRCV IV 14843, Cohen VII 17, Hunter V 126 var. ( no wreath), aVF, heavy earthen deposits, weight 5.300 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 0o, 3rd officina, Alexandria mint, 313 A.D.; obverse IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right; reverse GENIO AVGVSTI (to the guardian spirit of the Emperor), Genius standing slightly left, kalathos on head left, head of Serapis in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, star upper left, N over palm-branch left, Γ over wreath right, ALE in exergue; from the Ray Nouri Collection;
Maximinus II Daia, May 310 - 30 April 313 A.D.
In Roman religion, every man has a genius, a presiding spirit. In De Die Natali, Censorinus says, from the moment we are born, we live under the guard and tutelage of Genius. Cities, organizations, and peoples also had a genius. On coins, we find inscriptions to the Genius of the Army, of the Senate, of the Roman People, etc. The legend GENIO AVGVSTI dedicates this coin to the Genius of the Augusti, the Emperors. The figure depicted is the statue of the Spirit of the Roman People which was then in the Roman Forum (it is now lost). The act of pouring the libation to the emperor illustrates what the Christians were required to do in order not to be persecuted.RL94877. Billon follis, RIC VI Alexandria 149b, SRCV IV 14841, Cohen VII 17, Hunter V 124 var. (2nd officina), aVF, well centered, dark green patina, earthen deposits, scratches, weight 5.691 g, maximum diameter 22.6 mm, die axis 0o, 3rd officina, Alexandria mint, 312 A.D.; obverse IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right; reverse GENIO AVGVSTI (to the guardian spirit of the Emperor), Genius standing facing, head left, kalathos on head, nude but for chlamys over shoulders and left arm, head of Serapis wearing kalathos in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, X lower left, Γ right, ALE in exergue; from the Ray Nouri Collection;
Roman Egypt, Antinoopolites Nome?, Portrait of Antinous, c. 130 - 153 A.D.?
On 30 October 130 A.D., Hadrian founded the city of Antinoopolis on the very bank of the Nile river where Antinous drowned. It was the capital of a new nome, Antinoopolites. RX41306. Lead tessera, Dattari 6536, Geissen 3559 var. (11.23g), Emmett 4397 (R4), F, weight 3.809 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 75o, obverse draped bust of Antinous right, wearing hem-hem crown of Harpocrates, crescent before; reverse Serapis standing left, kalathos on head, right hand raised, long scepter in left; rare; SOLD
Philip II, July or August 247 - Late 249 A.D., Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior
Homonoia was the goddess (or spirit or personification) of harmony, concord, unanimity, and oneness of mind. She is usually depicted either seated or standing with a cornucopia.RP54379. Bronze pentassarion, Varbanov I 2096, AMNG I/I 1213, SNG Cop -, SNG Hunterian -, SNG Righetti -, Lindgren -, SGICV -, VF, attractive green patina, weight 11.556 g, maximum diameter 26.7 mm, die axis 45o, Markianopolis (Devnya, Bulgaria) mint, obverse M IOYΛIOC ΦIΛIΠΠOC KAICAP, confronting draped busts of Philip, on left, and Serapis; reverse MAPKIANOΠOΛΕITΩN, Homonoia standing facing, head left, patera in left over flaming altar, cornucopia in right, E (mark of value) in left field; attractive green patina; scarce; SOLD
Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace
The Roman Colony of Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria today) was founded during the reign of Vespasian on the west shore of Lake Mandren between Anchialus and Apollonia, and settled with veterans of Legio VIII Augusta. The town followed the usual Roman plan, with a very good water supply, sewers, and impressive baths with floor heating. It became one of the richest towns in the province. During the reign Mark Aurelius, Deultum was protected by large fortified walls and for centuries it served as an important communication point and a bulwark against barbarian raids. In 812 Khan Krum conquered Develt (its medieval name), banished the local residents to the north of Danube River, and resettled the town with Bulgarians.RP111806. Bronze AE 23, Draganov Deultum 1382; Varbanov 2848 (R6); RPC Online VII.2 976; Jurukova Deultum 262, VF, flan crack, central depressions, weight 6.881 g, maximum diameter 22.7 mm, die axis 45o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, 3rd issue, 241 - 242 A.D.; obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse COL FL PAC, DEVLT ending in exergue, temple with four columns, seen in three-quarter view, enclosing Sarapis raising standing left, raising right arm, scepter in left hand; ex Savoca Numismatik auction 153 (22 Jan 2023), lot 158; ex Münzzentrum Rheinland auction 196 (21 Sep 2022), lot 177; Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger auction 37 (19 Feb 2022), lot 1384; SOLD
Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Odessos, Moesia Inferior
The ancients did not all agree on the attributes of Serapis. A passage in Tacitus affirms that many recognized in this god, Aesculapius, imputing healing to his intervention; some thought him identical with Osiris, the oldest deity of the Egyptians; others regarded him as Jupiter, possessing universal power; but by most he was believed to be the same as Pluto, the "gloomy" Dis Pater of the infernal regions. The general impression of the ancients seems to have been that by Serapis, was to be understood the beginning and foundation of things. Julian II consulted the oracle of Apollo for the purpose of learning whether Pluto and Serapis were different gods; and he received for an answer that Jupiter-Serapis and Pluto were one and the same divinity.
RP65145. Bronze pentassarion, Varbanov I 4467, AMNG I/II 2342, VF, nice green patina, weight 11.419 g, maximum diameter 27.5 mm, die axis 180o, Odessos (Varna, Bulgaria) mint, obverse AYT K M, ANTΩNIOC ΓOPΔIANTNOC, confronted busts of Gordian on left, laureate, draped, and cuirassed, seen from behind; and Serapis on right, draped, wearing kalathos on head; reverse OΔHCCΕITΩN, Athena standing left, helmeted, pouring libations from phaile in right, spear vertical behind in left, grounded shield at her side resting against her right leg, E (mark of value) upper left; SOLD
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