CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ (28mm, 10.50 g, 6h). Good VF.

Electronic Auction 587
Lot: 486. Estimated: $ 200

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ (28mm, 10.50 g, 6h). Radiate and cuirassed bust right, draped left shoulder, seen from the front / Dionysus, his panther skin over his arm and extending behind him, holding thyrsus in right hand and cantharus from which he pours wine in left, driving biga of panthers right; to left, Maenads advancing right; to right, Silenus half-kneeling right, his head and upper body turned to left. RPC VI Online 7036; Ziegler, Münzen 463. Dark green patina, reverse scrapes. Good VF. Rare.

A common theme in Roman art is the Dionysiac thiasus, or procession of Dionysus and his followers. Recalling images of Roman triumphal processions, the scenes of Dionysus are victorious in nature, celebrating the god’s return from India and his successes in spreading his cult in the east. Such scenes were particularly appropriate for sarcophagi, where they served as symbols of the deceased’s triumph over death.

While the theme of the Triumph of Dionysus is recurrent in Roman art, the details of the scene and the retinue included can vary widely. In fact, we find on coins of Seleucia two very different scenes of Dionysus’ triumphal procession:

1) As on the current coin, with Dionysus standing left in a chariot, pouring out wine which a drunken Silenus stumbles to catch drops of. This type was also struck for Septimius Severus and Julia Domna (SNG France 979; SNG Levante 738), a mature Caracalla (SNG France 986; SNG Levante 746; SNG Pfälzer 1054), and Gordian III (SNG Levante 775).

2) The second type shows the procession moving left, with Dionysus seated in a car drawn by two panthers, holding a cantharus and thyrsus. A figure of Silenus dances above the panthers. This type was struck under Septimius Severus and Julia Domna (SNG Levante 739) and Caracalla (SNG Levante 748).

While the two scenes are quite different, the details of the recurring individual types are very specific. This would seem to suggest that they are both copying highly regarded works of art in Seleucia.

Closing Date and Time: 21 May 2025 at 12:41:40 ET.

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