Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 14 12-13 Dec 2020
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CILICIA. Mopsouestia-Mopsos. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Diassarion (Bronze, 26 mm, 9.55 g, 6 h), CY 285 = 217/8. AΔP MOΨЄATΩN ЄΠC Laureate head of Zeus (or Mopsos?) to right. Rev. AΔP MOΨЄATΩN ЄΠC Veiled and togate male figure standing front, head to left, holding patera over altar. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Levante 1350. SNG Leypold -. SNG Paris -. SNG PFPS -. SNG von Aulock -. Extremely rare and very unusual. Slightly rough, otherwise, good very fine.
This is a very unusual issue in that it provides an identical legend on both the obverse and the reverse, thus doubling the ethnic and date. Perhaps the reverse was supposed to be used with imperial obverses, but if it ever was, this cataloguer could not find any such examples. Alternatively, it may have been an ad hoc issue amidst the turmoil of the Severan rebellion against Macrinus in summer 218, a time during which the authorities in Mopsos might have decided to cease striking their hitherto rather abundant coinage in the name of Macrinus and Diadumenian.
This is a very unusual issue in that it provides an identical legend on both the obverse and the reverse, thus doubling the ethnic and date. Perhaps the reverse was supposed to be used with imperial obverses, but if it ever was, this cataloguer could not find any such examples. Alternatively, it may have been an ad hoc issue amidst the turmoil of the Severan rebellion against Macrinus in summer 218, a time during which the authorities in Mopsos might have decided to cease striking their hitherto rather abundant coinage in the name of Macrinus and Diadumenian.