Rare Aerial View of Marcianopolis

Sale: CNG 82, Lot: 822. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2009.  Sold For $2775. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ Pentassarion (12.26 g, 2h). Menophilus, consular legate. Laureate and draped bust of Gordian III right vis-à-vis draped bust of Serapis left, wearing calathus / City-view seen from aerial perspective: City wall separated by thirteen towers, two of which flank arched gate; arched colonnade along interior of back wall; inside, temple precinct composed of tetrastyle temple facade with colonnaded wings on either side and lighted altar in precinct center; magistrate’s name in legend. Hristova & Jekov 6.37.46.8 (same rev. die as illustration); AMNG I 1167; Varbanov 1972. Near VF, dark brown patina, fields smoothed. Very rare.