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Sale 117
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Lot 2287
Elagabalus. Æ Bimetallic Medallion (37.48 g), AD 218-222. Rome. [IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG], Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right. Reverse: AEQVITAS PVB, the three Monetae standing facing, heads left, each holding scales and cornucopiae; at their feet, piles of coins. Gnecchi -; BMFA -; Toynbee -. Extremely Rare. Pleasing olive-green patina with earthen highlights. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $2,000 - UP
The reverse of this medallion depicts the three Monetae, the Roman personifications of money, shown here holding cornucopias as a sign of abundance and scales referring to the just weight of legitimate coinage. Moneta was originally an epithet of the goddess Juno, in whose temple the original Roman Republican mint was located, but over time this title was reimagined (under the influence of the three Greek Charites, or Graces) in the Roman Imperial period to be the name of three personifications. These represented the three metals of the Roman coinage system: gold, silver, and aes (including bronze and orichalcum) and alluded to the fact that the old Republican minting system involved three annual magistrates known as the tresviri monetales aere argento auro flando feriundo ("three men for casting and striking bronze, silver, and gold"). Due to frequent changes to the fineness and weight of Roman coinage in the third century AD and a desire to reassure the public, the Monetae (or sometimes just a single Moneta) made frequent appearances on coins of the period. It is notable here that Elagabalus discontinued the issue of antoniniani and reduced the weight and fineness of the silver denarius and gold aureus.
Moneta types, however, were most closely associated with special distributions of coins from the emperor to the army and people in the form of donativa and congiaria and made frequent appearances on bimetallic medallions in the third century AD. The present medallion was almost certainly given as a gift on the occasion of distribution of largesse by Elagabalus, perhaps at the celebration of the New Year. The New Year festival at Rome traditionally involved gifts of coins and medallions, a custom that remained current as late as the fifth century AD, when contorniate medallions were a popular gift. Of course, festivals related to the worship of the Black Stone of Emesa, which had been brought to Rome by Elagabalus, also would have provided opportunities for the distribution of imperial gifts. The remarkable bimetallic (sometimes described as "framed"") construction - here a bronze center within a brass ring - enjoyed great popularity under Commodus, the Severan dynasty to which Elagabalus belonged, and Gordian III and Philip I.
Ex Tareq Hani Collection.
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| Realized $5,280 |
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