TROAS, Ilium. Crispina, wife of Commodus. Died 183 AD. Æ 28mm (11.89 gm). 
      KPICPEINA CEBACTH, draped bust right / IL-IE-WN, Ilos standing left, 
      sacrificing bull before Athena Ilias standing right. Bellinger 199; SNG 
      Copenhagen 413 var. (reverse legend placement); SNG von Aulock -; BMC 
      Troas, etc. pg. 67, 67. VF, dark brown patina with sandy highlights. 
      ($1000) From the David Simpson Collection. Ex Auctiones AG Auktion 17 (7 
      June 1988), lot 343; Frank Sternberg Auktion XI (20 November 1981), lot 
      276. Ilos was the legendary founder of Troy, which he named after his 
      father, Tros. Ilos had followed a cow until it rested, and there built the 
      city after having prayed for a sign that he had chosen the right spot. The 
      sign that Zeus had provided was a statue that was sacred to Athena, the 
      Palladium (Athena Ilias). Ilos built a temple to house the statue, and 
      Troy was safe from foreign enemies as long as the Palladium remained 
      within the city walls (Homer, Iliad 21.231-236; Apollodorus 3.12.2-3).


Triton V Sale, 16 Jan 2002, lot 1721.
 
 Lot sold for $1500, plus buyers fees.

By permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com.