Nomos 17

THRACE. Deultum. Diadumenian, as Caesar, 217-218. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 20.5 mm, 4.12 g, 1 h). M OPEL ANTONINVS DIADV C Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Diadumenian to right. Rev. C-F / P-D Marsyas standing right, raising his right hand in greeting and holding a wineskin over his left shoulder. Draganov 232-3 (O36/R95). Varbanov 2234. Yurukova, Deultum 70. An attractive example with a dark green patina. Nearly extremely fine.

From the Vineyard Collection, ex Gorny & Mosch 115, 5 March 2002, 1294.

The figure of Marsyas on the reverse of this coin is copied from a statue that stood in the Roman Forum, near the comitium: it was seen as a symbol of liberty and its base was used as a sign board for posting rude political verses by members of the plebs. In addition, according to Martial the statue in Rome seems to have been a meeting place for both courtesans and lawyers. Presumably, its appearance on this coin must have referred to its connection with liberty, rather than with prostitutes or lawyers. In any case, this statue also appears on the coinages of other Roman colonies, see below, lot 292, for the same type on the coinage of Ninica under Maximinus I, and above, lot 256, for an earlier Ninica example.