RPC IV.4, 318

 

Image of specimen #1

 

Coin type
Volume IV.4
Number 318
Province Egypt
Region Egypt
City Alexandria
Reign Antoninus Pius
Person (obv.) Antoninus Pius (Augustus)
Issue Year Δ = 4
Dating AD 140/1
Obverse inscription ΑΥΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ΕΥϹ ϹΕΒ
Obverse design bare-headed bust of Antoninus Pius wearing cuirass and paludamentum, right, seen from rear
Reverse inscription L ΤΕΤΑΡΤ]ΟΥ (?)
Reverse design Zeus (or Sarapis Pantheos?) seated, left, wearing kalathos(?), holding sceptre and club; at his feet, eagle
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 35 mm
Reference D 2932, pl. XXV (rev.)
Specimens 1 (0 in the core collections)
Note Much is uncertain about this type and it requires confirmation from additional specimens. Dattari restored [L ΤƐΤΑΡΤ]ΟV. The termination of the obverse legend (ƐΥϹ ϹƐΒ as opposed to ƐVϹƐΒ) is not otherwise recorded for year 4, although most coins are too worn to be sure. This obverse legend termination is securely recorded for year 3, so a restoration of the date as L ΤΡΙΤ]ΟV might also be considered. On the other hand, a conventional figure of Zeus in this configuration, with sceptre and thunderbolt, is found on this denomination in year 4: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/22636.The deity on the present type may be intended to be syncretic if it is not the result of confusion by the die-cutter. The eagle is indicative of Zeus, the kalathos - if that is what it is - of Sarapis. The figure appears to hold a club rather that the thunderbolt expected of Zeus. A club can be an attribute of Sarapis Pantheos. If the eagle were really a forepart of a ram with head reverted then it would be tempting to compare respresentations of Harpocrates of Mendes, who can wear a kalathos (cf. RPC III, https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/type/13507) but it really does look like an eagle and Dattari identified it as such from the coin. With thanks to K. Emmett for advice.

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     ✸ D 2932, pl. XXV (rev.)