THRACE, Bizya. Late 2nd Century AD. Æ (20mm, 6.49 g, 7h). Near VF.

Electronic Auction 535
Lot: 226. Estimated: $ 100

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 70. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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THRACE, Bizya. Late 2nd Century AD. Æ (20mm, 6.49 g, 7h). Bearded head of Dionysus right, wreathed with grape vine / Zeus standing left, holding scepter and patera. Mionnet Supp. II 163 corr. (Dionysus reverse, holding diota); CNG 55, lot 930. Green patina, minor roughness. Near VF. Very rare.

From the Conti Collection, purchased from Palladium Numismatics.

Although bearing an uncanny resemblance to Pertinax or Septimius Severus, this likeness is almost certainly that of Dionysus. This likelihood is borne out by the evident grape leaves behind the head of the deity. The BMC lists a similar coin bearing Silenos as the reverse type, and Lindgren I contains a similarly modeled coin of the period with Poseidon as the obverse and Dionysus as the reverse. The similarity in style of Dionysus' head to that of Septimius or Pertinax accounts for its chronological attribution.

Closing Date and Time: 29 March 2023 at 11:15:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 20% buyer’s fee.