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Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 90  23 May 2012
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Lot 1027

Estimate: 1000 USD
Price realized: 2500 USD
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CARIA, Halicarnassus. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ (30mm, 14.72 g, 12h). Stratokles, archon. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Cult statue of Zeus Ascraeus facing between two trees, each surmounted by an oracular crow; name in two lines in exergue. Karl -; SNG München -; SNG von Aulock 2534 (same obv. die); BMC 88. Good VF, dark green patina with traces of orange earthen overtones.


From Group CEM.

The epithet Asrcaeus (Gr. Ἀσκραίος) refers to a species of oak tree (Hesychius s.v. ἄσκρα). While the oak was an associated attribute of Zeus, the reference here may refer to a Prehellenic Carian nature deity, similar to the later mythological Dryads, or nymphs who inhabited the trees (δρύες). Apollonius Dyscolus (Historia mirabilium 13) states that a goat was sacrificed to him.
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