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Auction 54 11 Jan 2022
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Valerian I. Æ Medallion 46 mm (42.11 g), AD 253-260. Sardes in Lydia. Domitius Rufus, asiarch and son of the second asiarch. AYT K Π ΛIK OYAΛEPIANOC CE, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I right. Reverse: [EΠ]I ΔOM POYΦOY ACIARX (KE) YIOY B ACIARX around, CAPΔIANΩN TRIC / NEΩKOP/ΩN in exergue, Demeter, with billowing veil and holding torch in each hand, standing in biga drawn right by two winged serpents. GRPC - Lydia 713 (this coin illus.); BMC 206; Waddington 7059. Reddish-brown patina. Very large and impressive. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $6,500 - UP
The die engraver has taken full advantage of the large diameter of the coin to depict the grain goddess Demeter in wonderful detail on the reverse. She is shown holding two torches in reference to her cult title Phosphoros ("Light-Bearer"). After the abduction of her daughter Persephone by Hades, Demeter searched for her everywhere, carrying torches so that she could look into the dark places of the world in the hope of finding her daughter. At the same time, the coin shows her riding a fantastic and fast (indicated by the veil that blows up behind the goddess's head) chariot of winged serpents This vehicle was normally associated with the demigod Triptolemos, who was nursed by Demeter and taught the secrets of agriculture so that he could pass them on to mankind. Together, Demeter and Triptolemos were worshipped in the Eleusinian mysteries - one of the most prestigious mystery cults of the Greco-Roman world. Indeed, even emperors desired induction into the cult. As such, one wonders whether this coin might have been struck to commemorate the induction of Valerian I and his son Gallienus into the mysteries during their fortification of Athens (including Eleusis) against the Gothic and Herulian menace. On the other hand, it is also possible that the type alludes to the temple of Demeter and Kore (Persephone) at Sardis and its cult. However, since the coin is signed by Domitius Rufus in his role as Asiarch - the chief priest and organizer of the imperial cult in the province of Asia - it seems somewhat more likely that the type should be connected to the emperor and therefore makes induction into the Eleusinian mysteries a preferable interpretation of the Demeter type.Unfortunately, whatever secrets of the goddess Valerian I may have been privy to, they did him very little good. Not long after his visit to Athens and his entry into Asia, he embarked on an incredibly disastrous campaign against the Sasanian Persians. It was so bad that in AD 260, not only were his Roman legions annihilated by the Persians, but Valerian himself was captured alive and held hostage at the court of Shapur I. There he was said to have been kept in a cage and was brought out to serve as a footstool whenever Shapur mounted his horse. After years of such abuse Valerian died and faced his final ignominy: his body was stuffed so that the Sasanian shahanshah could always mount his horse from the back of an emperor.
Ex CNG 79 (17 September 2008), 606.
The die engraver has taken full advantage of the large diameter of the coin to depict the grain goddess Demeter in wonderful detail on the reverse. She is shown holding two torches in reference to her cult title Phosphoros ("Light-Bearer"). After the abduction of her daughter Persephone by Hades, Demeter searched for her everywhere, carrying torches so that she could look into the dark places of the world in the hope of finding her daughter. At the same time, the coin shows her riding a fantastic and fast (indicated by the veil that blows up behind the goddess's head) chariot of winged serpents This vehicle was normally associated with the demigod Triptolemos, who was nursed by Demeter and taught the secrets of agriculture so that he could pass them on to mankind. Together, Demeter and Triptolemos were worshipped in the Eleusinian mysteries - one of the most prestigious mystery cults of the Greco-Roman world. Indeed, even emperors desired induction into the cult. As such, one wonders whether this coin might have been struck to commemorate the induction of Valerian I and his son Gallienus into the mysteries during their fortification of Athens (including Eleusis) against the Gothic and Herulian menace. On the other hand, it is also possible that the type alludes to the temple of Demeter and Kore (Persephone) at Sardis and its cult. However, since the coin is signed by Domitius Rufus in his role as Asiarch - the chief priest and organizer of the imperial cult in the province of Asia - it seems somewhat more likely that the type should be connected to the emperor and therefore makes induction into the Eleusinian mysteries a preferable interpretation of the Demeter type.Unfortunately, whatever secrets of the goddess Valerian I may have been privy to, they did him very little good. Not long after his visit to Athens and his entry into Asia, he embarked on an incredibly disastrous campaign against the Sasanian Persians. It was so bad that in AD 260, not only were his Roman legions annihilated by the Persians, but Valerian himself was captured alive and held hostage at the court of Shapur I. There he was said to have been kept in a cage and was brought out to serve as a footstool whenever Shapur mounted his horse. After years of such abuse Valerian died and faced his final ignominy: his body was stuffed so that the Sasanian shahanshah could always mount his horse from the back of an emperor.
Ex CNG 79 (17 September 2008), 606.