Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 472 15 Jul 2020
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EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Drachm (31mm, 16.31 g, 12h). Dated RY 9 (AD 168/169). Laureate and draped bust right / Semasia on horseback riding left, wearing elephant skin headdress and holding palm frond and reins; CHMACIA below, L [ЄNA TOV] (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3782; K&G 39.202; RPC IV.4 Online 14635; Emmett 2433.9 (R5). Brown surfaces with traces of green, roughness. Near Fine. An affordable example of this rare type.
From a Private English Collection Formed Post War.
Σημείον means 'signal,' as σημεία is a military standard, which signals the location of an army. Semasia, therefore, is the herald that brings news of a military triumph – in this case the news that the Parthians had been routed by the Roman army, losing Seleuceia and Ctesiphon in the wake of the Armenian War. This very rare and interesting depiction of Semasia also occurs on Alexandrian drachms of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior, further recanting the military exploits during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.
From a Private English Collection Formed Post War.
Σημείον means 'signal,' as σημεία is a military standard, which signals the location of an army. Semasia, therefore, is the herald that brings news of a military triumph – in this case the news that the Parthians had been routed by the Roman army, losing Seleuceia and Ctesiphon in the wake of the Armenian War. This very rare and interesting depiction of Semasia also occurs on Alexandrian drachms of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior, further recanting the military exploits during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.