Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 535 29 Mar 2023
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THRACE, Bizya. Late 2nd Century AD. Æ (20mm, 6.49 g, 7h). Bearded head of Dionysus right, wreathed with grape vine / Zeus standing left, holding scepter and patera. Mionnet Supp. II 163 corr. (Dionysus reverse, holding diota); CNG 55, lot 930. Green patina, minor roughness. Near VF. Very rare.
From the Conti Collection, purchased from Palladium Numismatics.
Although bearing an uncanny resemblance to Pertinax or Septimius Severus, this likeness is almost certainly that of Dionysus. This likelihood is borne out by the evident grape leaves behind the head of the deity. The BMC lists a similar coin bearing Silenos as the reverse type, and Lindgren I contains a similarly modeled coin of the period with Poseidon as the obverse and Dionysus as the reverse. The similarity in style of Dionysus' head to that of Septimius or Pertinax accounts for its chronological attribution.
From the Conti Collection, purchased from Palladium Numismatics.
Although bearing an uncanny resemblance to Pertinax or Septimius Severus, this likeness is almost certainly that of Dionysus. This likelihood is borne out by the evident grape leaves behind the head of the deity. The BMC lists a similar coin bearing Silenos as the reverse type, and Lindgren I contains a similarly modeled coin of the period with Poseidon as the obverse and Dionysus as the reverse. The similarity in style of Dionysus' head to that of Septimius or Pertinax accounts for its chronological attribution.