RPC I, 2061

 

Image of specimen #10

 

Coin type
Volume I
Number 2061
Province Bithynia-Pontus
Region Bithynia
City Nicaea
Reign Nero
Person (obv.) Nero (Augustus)
Person (rev.) Valeria Messallina
Dating c. 62/6
Obverse inscription ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ ΓΕ
Edition Νέρων Κλαύδιος Καῖσαρ Σεβαστὸς Γε(ρμανικός)
Translation Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
Obverse design radiate head of Nero, right
Reverse inscription ΜΕΣΣΑΛΕΙΝΑ ΓΥΝΕ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ
Edition Μεσσαλεῖνα γυνὴ Σεβαστοῦ
Translation Messalina, wife of Augustus
Reverse design Statilia Messalina as Securitas seated, right
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 27 mm
Average weight 10.68 g
Axis 6, 12
Reference C. Howgego, SM 140 (1985), 90, no. 4 corr.
Specimens 11 (3 in the core collections)
Note Seyrig, followed by Howgego, read the rev. legend as ΜΕΣΣΑΛΙΝΑ ΓΥΝΕ (sic), but the second Ε in Messalina is just clear on 1 and 2; it was also read as such by Millingen, who read the second word as ΓΥΝΗ: but although Η seems much more likely than Ε, Ε does seem clear on 2. Millingen read TIB instead of ΓΕ on the obv., but ΓΕ is clear on specimen 2.

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     V: GR 27322 uncertain = SM 140 (1985), 89, fig. 4b
2 2     P: 1965/724 H. Seyrig, RN 1964, 54, fig. 9 = SM 140 (1985), 89, fig. 4a
3 3     B: uncertain 1256/1920 Hirsch 29, 1630
4 4     J. Millingen, Sylloge of Ancient Unedited Greek Coins (1837), 64, pl. 3.38
5 5     CNG EA 368, 10 Feb. 2016, lot 231
6 6     CGT coll.
7 7     Naumann 80, 4 Aug. 2019, lot 326
8 8     Nemesis Ancient Coins VCoins store 2020
9 9     Naumann 92, 2 Aug. 2020, lot 461
10 10     ✸ Roma Numismatics EA 78, 17 Dec. 2020, lot 800
11 11     CNG EA 565, 3 July 2024, lot 361