HistoricalCoins





                              New Search 


                                Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1237. Closing Date: Jun 08, 
                                2005. PHOENICIA, Sidon. Elagabalus. 218-222 AD. 
                                Æ 30mm (22.75 gm, 12h). Bidding Closed Estimate 
                                $300 

                              PHOENICIA, Sidon. Elagabalus. 218-222 AD. Æ 30mm 
                              (22.75 gm, 12h). IMP CAESAR M AV ANTONINV, 
                              laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / AVR 
                              PIA SIDON COL MET, AETER BFI in exergue, 
                              two-handled modius containing four grain ears. SNG 
                              Copenhagen -; cf. BMC Phoenicia 274-278 (legend). 
                              VF, red and green patina. Rare. ($300)

                              From the Garth R. Drewry Collection. Ex Freeman & 
                              Sear 7 (22 February 2002), lot 277

                              This rare type records the imperial reward to 
                              Sidon regarding the res frumentaria, or 
                              grain-supply. Like those other cities which had 
                              supported Septimius Severus against Pescennius 
                              Niger in 193-194 AD, the new emperor and his 
                              immediate cognate successors rewarded them with 
                              gifts of grain (for a similar reward under 
                              Caracalla, see lot 1153 above). According to 
                              Rostovtzeff (NC [1900], p. 100), such a gift could 
                              be substituted with money; it is to this latter 
                              gift, he argues, that our coin refers. This money 
                              would go to the local sitwnai (Lat. frumentarii), 
                              officials charged with providing grain for the 
                              city.








                  Copyright © CNG 2002
                  Developed by DataArt 2002

             


High bid of $365, $419.75 including 15% buyers fee, or approximately €295.65, £200.75, C$456.25, A$474.5, on June 8, 2005.

Used by permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com