Lot 1114
Cilicia, Aegeae. Autonomous (under Caracalla). ca. A.D. 216-217. Billon Tetradrachm (11.78 g). Diademed and draped bust of Asclepius right; serpent-entwined staff before. Rev. Asclepius standing facing, head left, leaning on serpent-staff, within octastyle temple. (cf. Prieur 723 for a similar obverse; H. Bloesch, "Caracalla in Aigeai," Atti (Proceedings). Congresso Internazionale di Numismatica, Roma 1961 (1965), 307 seq. Apparently unpublished and a very interesting type). A little rough, very fine nonetheless. Very fine. Estimate $2,500UP
The sanctuary of Asclepius in Aegeae was certainly not as famous as the ones in Epidaurus, Cos or Pergamum, but was still well known. The rather unusual use of base silver for these rare autonomous issues (dated 262 and 263 of the local era, or A.D. 215/6 and 216/7) as well as their types refer to an illness of Caracalla and of his attempt at being healed by visiting sanctuaries of Asclepius such as Pergamum and probably Aegeae.
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| Realized $2,360 |
