Thracia, Anchialos, Gordian III AMNG 641 var.
Gordian AD 238-244
AE 25, 9.8g
so-called 'Dreier'
obv. AVT KM ANT GORDIANOC AVG (AVG ligate)
Bust, laureate, r.
rev. AGXIAL - EWN (WN ligate)
Demeter, richly draped and veiled, seated l. on basket, holding corn-ears (and 
poppy?) in outstretched r. hand and holding long torch in raised l. hand.
AMNG 641 var. (3 ex., 1, 2 in Berlin, 3 in Sofia), obv. is (1) Berlin, rev. is (3) Sofia
rare, about VF

I cannot forebare saying what a lovely and unusual Demeter,like an illustrationfor her Homeric Hymn, this reverse is, while the portrait of Gordian is also exceptional. Wether she is seated on a regular basket , such as blankets and garments would be stored in or represents a statue or a painting showing Demeter on a basket-weave throne (recalling Ibihil's from Mari!) I don't know and perhaps it doesn't matter unless an actual omparandum is found (Pat Lawrence)



Contributed by Hans-Joachim Hoeft, December, 2006.