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
Obverse design radiate head of Nero, right
Reverse inscription ΜΕΣΣΑΛΕΙΝΑ ΓΥΝΕ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ
Reverse design Statilia Messalina as Securitas seated, right
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 27 mm
Axis 6, 12
Reference C. Howgego, SM 140 (1985), 90, no. 4 corr.
Specimens 10 (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.
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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