RPC II, 657

 

Image of specimen #2

 

Coin type
Volume II
Number 657
Province Bithynia-Pontus
Region Bithynia
City Nicomedia
Reign Domitian
Person (obv.) Domitian (Augustus)
Obverse inscription ΑΥΤ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ
Obverse design laureate head of Domitian, right
Reverse inscription Η ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΩΤΗ ΒΙΘΥΝΙΑ(Σ ΚΑ)
Reverse design Demeter standing, left, holding ?corn-ears and long sceptre, in biga of winged serpents
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 28 mm
Axis 7
Reference Rec 31
Specimens 5 (2 in the core collections)
Note A. Boutkowski, RN 1884, p. 402, no. 3, published an example in his own collection (pl. XVIII.3) as a coin of Heraclea. The figure of Demeter is similar to that found on contemporary coins of Nicaea and Prusias ad Hypium, derived from the Latin coins of Titus and Domitian from Thrace (508-9), although it has been placed on the chariot. For a discussion of the type, see R. Lindner, Mythos und Identität (1994), pp. 135-7·

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     B: Löbb.
2 2     ✸ P: 1274 Wa 461 = Rec pl. LXXXIX.18
3 3     vA 741
4 4     Lanz 54, 1990, lot 534
5 5     Kress 120, 1961, lot 188