EGYPT, Alexandria. Claudius II Gothicus. AD 268-270. Potin Tetradrachm (22mm, 10.59 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 269/70). Near EF.

Triton XXVII – Session 5
Lot: 5567. Estimated: $ 100

The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Coinage, Potin

Sold For $ 450. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

EGYPT, Alexandria. Claudius II Gothicus. AD 268-270. Potin Tetradrachm (22mm, 10.59 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 269/70). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Harpocrates of Pelousion standing facing, head right, wearing hem-hem crown, holding olive branch with his outstretched right hand and a pomegranate in his left; to left, Pygmy standing facing, plucking a pomegranate from branch; L B (date) across field. Köln 3036; Dattari (Savio) 5390; K&G 104.24; RPC X Online 75609; Emmett 3886.2. Red-brown patina, small edge splits. Near EF.

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Ed Waddell, 28 August, 2000.

At Pelousion is the sacred image of Zeus Kasios; but the statue is that of a youth more like Apollo, so young it seemed. He has his hand stretched out holding a pomegranate, about which there is a mystical story. (Achilles Tatius 3.6)

Achilles Tatius’ description of the cult image of Harpocrates of Pelousion, given in his tale of the adventures of the lovers Klitophon and Leukippe, is frustratingly brief and offers no clue as to how the youthful deity became associated with Zeus. Coins and gems serve as the primary evidence for the iconography of the sanctuary’s cult statue. As a coin type, this reverse only appears on coins of Claudius II and Diocletian.

Closing Date and Time: 17 January 2024 at 13:08:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer’s fee.