Ave!

Cilicia, Severus Alexander, Dionysos Driving Biga of Panthers reverse, Rare!

Æ 28mm/15.7gm Anazarbus Mint, struck ca. 228-229 AD

Con/ Some loss of the reverse legend, otherwise, Good Very Fine; well struck and centered; pleasant green patina with a delightful image on the reverse.

Obv/ ΑΥΤΟ Κ Μ Α CΕΥ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC; laureate and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander, right, seen from front.

Rev/ ΑΝΑΖ ΕΝΔΟΞ ΜΗΤ Β Γ ΕΤ ΗΜC ( = of the glorious (city) of the Anazarbans, metropolis, the most beautiful, of year 248); Dionysus standing on chariot, right, drawn by two panthers, holding thyrsus and taenia.

Ref/ RPC Vol VI, 30233

Seller's Note/ A very rare coin, indeed; only three samples found on RPC Online. Why the panthers on the reverse? Because panthers were the companions of Dionysus! In the painting, note not only the panther, but the thyrsus as well.