| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 2208 Price realized: 300 CHF (Approx. 341 USD / 317 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: ARGOLIS. Cleonae. Julia Domna, Augusta, 193-217. Assarion (Bronze, 24 mm, 5.20 g), circa 198-208. •I•ΔΟΜ CЄΒΑC Draped bust of Julia Domna to right. Rev. ΚΛЄΟΝ[Α]ΙⲰΝ Eagle with spread wings and head to left, holding scepter in its talons, standing right on altar set on mount Apesas. BCD Peloponnesos 1326. BMC -. NCP p. 33f., 4. Extremely rare and unusually attractive. Some deposits and with traces of cleaning, otherwise, nearly very fine. From a European collection, formed before 2005. In the first years of the 3rd century, a whole series of Peloponnesian towns issued their own bronze in the name of Septimius Severus, Domna, Caracalla, Plautilla, and Geta, forming, for some of the lesser-known settlements, the only coinage ever issued by these communities. As noted by Seyrig, such coins often ended up in the Near East. The most likely explanation for this remarkable cross-regional movement of local bronze coins is that they were carried there as pocket money by Peloponnesian soldiers who were recruited by in 214/5 Caracalla into his 'Greek Phalanx' to fight against the Parthians on his eastern campaign. Clearly there was no need for such an outdated military formation in the professional Roman army of the 3rd century - the sole role of the unit was to please the emperor, who portrayed himself as a new Alexander, one of most famous cases of a Roman imitatio Alexandri. Starting price: 50 CHF |  |
