RPC II, 920

 

Image of specimen #2

 

Coin type
Volume II
Number 920
Province Asia
Subprovince Conventus of Pergamum
Region Mysia
City Pergamum
Reign Domitian
Person (obv.) Domitian (Augustus)
Magistrate Claudius Kephalion (strategos)
Alliance with Ephesus
Obverse inscription ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟϹ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΟϹ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟϹ
Edition Δομιτιανὸς Καῖσαρ Σεβαστὸς Γερμανικός
Translation Domitian Caesar Augustus Germanicus
Obverse design laureate head of Domitian, right, with aegis
Reverse inscription ΕΠΙ ϹΤΡΑ ΚΛ ΚΕΦΑΛΙΩΝΟϹ ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ ΠΕΡΓΑΜΗΝ, ΕΦΕ
Edition ἐπὶ στρα(τηγοῦ) Κλ(αυδίου) Κεφαλίωνος ὁμόνοια Περγαμην(ῶν) Ἐφε(σίων)
Translation under the strategos Claudius Kephalion, concord of the Pergamenes with the Ephesians
Reverse design draped figure of Artemis (of Ephesus) standing, right, with stag behind, clasping hands with bearded male standing figure (Zeus; of Pergamum?), holding transverse sceptre
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 30 mm
Average weight 16.48 g
Axis 12
Reference Franke & Nollé 1509–10
Specimens 4 (3 in the core collections)
Note This 'alliance' coin of Ephesus and Pergamum has the name of a Pergamene magistrate and should therefore presumably be regarded as a coin made by Pergamum, even though no other coins of this denomination are known at Pergamum. The same denomination does, however, occur at Ephesus, and the obv. is very close to coins of Ephesus (e.g. 1070-3). The identity of the male figure is not certain, but probably Zeus (von Fritze, Pergamon, p. 102), who is attested at Pergamum in various cults, e.g. Zeus Philips, Zeus Olympios. From the second century Asclepius was the god normally chosen to symbolise Pergamum in 'alliance' coins, although on coins of Augustus the Demos of Pergamum appears with the Demos of Sardis (RPC I, 2362, cf. 2988). Dräger p. 320 with n. 10 prefers to identify the figure as Asclepius Soter.

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     L: 1898,0601.19
2 2     ✸ P: Pergamum 1211 von Fritze, Pergamon pl. IX, 4, rev.
3 3     P: Ephesus 657
4 4     Bergamo: 1592