Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 5 & 6 . 5487 Numistats ref: 674130
No match
The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Coinage
Category
EGYPT, Alexandria. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Diobol (22mm, 5.62 g, 12h). Dated RY 25 (AD 184/5). Laureate head right / Radiate and draped bust of Serapis-Pantheos right, wearing kalathos and horn of Ammon; cornucopia over left shoulder, dolphin-entwined trident to right, [L K] Є (date) across upper field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3942 corr. (trident described as club); K&G 41.76 corr. (same); RPC IV.4 3482; Emmett 2619.25 (R5). Green and brown patina. Near VF. Extremely rare, only one recorded in RPC, only this coin in CoinArchives.
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Garth R. Drewry Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 113, 11 May 2005), lot 189; Coin Galleries (16 August 1983), lot 337.
Serapis was a syncretic god, combining Hellenistic Greek and Egyptian religious beliefs. His name is of Egyptian origin and derives from a synthesis of Ausar (Greek, Osiris), the Egyptian god of the Underworld, and Hapi (Greek, Apis), a manifestation of the god Ptah. Under the Ptolemies, Serapis became the chief tutelary god and the subject of a royally-sponsored cult, whose emphasis on an afterlife made the worship of Serapis one of the more popular mystery cults. His immense popularity soon extended his creation as Serapis-Pantheos, a hybrid deity incorporating other divine elements. In Alexandria, a large temple complex, called the Serapeum was constructed and remained highly patronized well into the fourth century AD. Shortly after the imperial decree of AD 391, officially declaring pagan temples closed, the Serapeum was besieged, plundered, and destroyed. Description
From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Garth R. Drewry Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 113, 11 May 2005), lot 189; Coin Galleries (16 August 1983), lot 337.
Serapis was a syncretic god, combining Hellenistic Greek and Egyptian religious beliefs. His name is of Egyptian origin and derives from a synthesis of Ausar (Greek, Osiris), the Egyptian god of the Underworld, and Hapi (Greek, Apis), a manifestation of the god Ptah. Under the Ptolemies, Serapis became the chief tutelary god and the subject of a royally-sponsored cult, whose emphasis on an afterlife made the worship of Serapis one of the more popular mystery cults. His immense popularity soon extended his creation as Serapis-Pantheos, a hybrid deity incorporating other divine elements. In Alexandria, a large temple complex, called the Serapeum was constructed and remained highly patronized well into the fourth century AD. Shortly after the imperial decree of AD 391, officially declaring pagan temples closed, the Serapeum was besieged, plundered, and destroyed. Description
VF
Grade
86.29 EUR
Starting
143.81 EUR
Estimate
EUR
Realized