Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 78 17 Dec 2020
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Judaea. Caracalla BI Tetradrachm of Neapolis. 215-217 CE. AVT KAI ANTѠNINOC C, laureate and cuirassed bust to right, seen from front / ΔHMAPX • ЄΞ VΠATO Δ •, temple complex atop Mount Gerizim; all within beaded border supported by eagle standing facing, head left, with wings spread. Prieur 1700 var. (bust seen from behind); Bellinger 337 var. (same); SNG ANS -; NAC Auction O, 2057. 13.13g, 22mm, 5h.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only four other examples of the type on the CoinArchives, of which there is only one with this bust type, that being the example sold by NAC in 2004 (hammer: 9,250 CHF).
Mount Gerizim forms the southern peak of the valley in which the modern city Nablus (Biblical Shechem) is situated, standing opposite Mount Ebal to the north. According to Samaritan tradition it was the location chosen for the holy temple, as opposed to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, and the location of many notable events such as the sacrifice of his son Isaac by Abraham (Genesis 22:2). Deuteronomy (11:29) records Moses' direction to the Israelites in advance of their entry to the Promised Land, that "when the Lord your God has brought you into the land which you go to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal".
Under the Romans in the second century AD (perhaps during the reign of Hadrian), a temple to Zeus was erected on one of the peaks of Mount Gerizim, which is the subject of the present reverse type. The city of Neapolis, situated at the base of the mountain, produced several issues with the sanctuary as the focus of interest during this period, while the presence of the imperial eagle supporting the mountain, coupled with the figure of Marsyas, is symbolic of imperial favour towards this Eastern city.
Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only four other examples of the type on the CoinArchives, of which there is only one with this bust type, that being the example sold by NAC in 2004 (hammer: 9,250 CHF).
Mount Gerizim forms the southern peak of the valley in which the modern city Nablus (Biblical Shechem) is situated, standing opposite Mount Ebal to the north. According to Samaritan tradition it was the location chosen for the holy temple, as opposed to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, and the location of many notable events such as the sacrifice of his son Isaac by Abraham (Genesis 22:2). Deuteronomy (11:29) records Moses' direction to the Israelites in advance of their entry to the Promised Land, that "when the Lord your God has brought you into the land which you go to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal".
Under the Romans in the second century AD (perhaps during the reign of Hadrian), a temple to Zeus was erected on one of the peaks of Mount Gerizim, which is the subject of the present reverse type. The city of Neapolis, situated at the base of the mountain, produced several issues with the sanctuary as the focus of interest during this period, while the presence of the imperial eagle supporting the mountain, coupled with the figure of Marsyas, is symbolic of imperial favour towards this Eastern city.