Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 52 10 Jan 2019
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Commodus Æ37 of Ephesus, Ionia. AD 182-184. ΑV ΚΑΙ ΟΛVΜΠΙΟС ΚΟΜΟΔΟС, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, wearing paludamentum / ЄΦЄСΙΩΝ Β ΝЄΟΚ СΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ, cult-statue of Artemis Ephesus standing facing to left, having supports and wearing kalathos, and cult-statue of Kore Sardis standing facing to right, wearing tall crown surmounted by crescent; ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ in exergue. RPC IV Online 1154 (temporary); Weber 5906. 29.43g, 37mm, 7h.
Extremely Fine; some strengthening of detail. Extremely Rare; RPC Online cites only three examples.
Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker eLive 44, 4 April 2017, lot 122 (subsequently cleaned and conserved);
Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker 204, 12 March 2012, lot 716;
Ex Schenk-Behrens 72, 1996, lot 380.
This homonoia issue celebrates the special relationship between Ephesus and Sardis and depicts their respective local deities: Artemis and Kore. The archaizing style of the two goddesses asserts the ancient cultural identity of the two cities. This can be seen within the context of the second and third century occupation of the elite in Roman occupied cities with re-evaluating and reconstructing local histories, often referred to as the Second Sophistic. Members of male elites often competed with one another by boasting their education, delivering speeches which often took on the topics of local history or events. This gave rise to a revival of ancient (sometimes invented) cults, festivals, alliances with other cities and an interest in rewriting local histories and foundation myths. The evoking of cultural memory by way of myths and traditions not only reinforced cultural identity and civic pride during life under Roman rule but also gave local elites social and political power over the associated rituals (see See J. Evans, Cultural Memory, Artemis and «Kore»: The Coins of Sardis during the Second Sophistic in N AC 46, 2017).
Extremely Fine; some strengthening of detail. Extremely Rare; RPC Online cites only three examples.
Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker eLive 44, 4 April 2017, lot 122 (subsequently cleaned and conserved);
Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker 204, 12 March 2012, lot 716;
Ex Schenk-Behrens 72, 1996, lot 380.
This homonoia issue celebrates the special relationship between Ephesus and Sardis and depicts their respective local deities: Artemis and Kore. The archaizing style of the two goddesses asserts the ancient cultural identity of the two cities. This can be seen within the context of the second and third century occupation of the elite in Roman occupied cities with re-evaluating and reconstructing local histories, often referred to as the Second Sophistic. Members of male elites often competed with one another by boasting their education, delivering speeches which often took on the topics of local history or events. This gave rise to a revival of ancient (sometimes invented) cults, festivals, alliances with other cities and an interest in rewriting local histories and foundation myths. The evoking of cultural memory by way of myths and traditions not only reinforced cultural identity and civic pride during life under Roman rule but also gave local elites social and political power over the associated rituals (see See J. Evans, Cultural Memory, Artemis and «Kore»: The Coins of Sardis during the Second Sophistic in N AC 46, 2017).