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Septimius Severus ΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ - ΣЄΥΗΡΟΣBust laurel on the rightΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙ - ΠΡΟΣ ΙΣΤΡ

Septimius Severus

ΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ - ΣЄΥΗΡΟΣ

Bust laurel on the right

ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙ - ΠΡΟΣ ΙΣΤΡ

 

Fountain ? Fountain? not clear

 

AE | 17 mm | 3.47 g | 2 hVarbanov engl. 2316, SNG Munich 404, AMNG 1427v, Hristova / Jekov 47.27v

 

Exclusively Nicopolis cut object. See. (# K0261).

AMNG 1427v: flower vessel with (?), In the note alternatively torch. SNG Mübchen 404: Torch with (?).

 

The interpretation as a torch definitely seems equally impossible to me (flames falling down in a bow?) Like a flower vessel (where are the flowers?). In the ship find of Mahdia, however, was a quite similar designed candelabra, but with a large stand (Martin, Fig.S.356).

The structure is most likely reminiscent of an overflowing 'fountain', (Varbanov 2316: Fountain).

On the reverse: Hristova / Jekov ("fountain with 3 levels", but without justification together with coin back "torch" under a serial number shown), as well as (# k0261 and # k7027 = CNG e278.181). Also stamped Rs. For Caracalla (see # a1056).

 

Coins with gargoyles, fountains, fountains (Meta sudans, su) in various forms are known from Alexandria RPC III 4317), Aphrodisias (Macdonald 247 and others), Argos (# a0705), Himera (Tetradrachm, Price / Trell 91), Corinth , Nicopolis / Epeiros (Meta sudans, eg RPC III.523), Nicopolis / Moesia (# a0232), Patras (see note # a0676), Pherae (# a0867), Rome (Meta sudans, antique copy with well visible riser intact in Cuicul / Djemila), Serdika (# a0723), Terina (Tetradrachm, Price / Trell 92), Troizen (Imhoof / Gardner, TF GG, XV and M, X), s. Also note to # a0607 ('Nymphaea).

Meta sudans: the external shape resembles the turning point ('meta') in the circus. From a riser inside ('sudans') water trickles down the conical body into a catch basin, the water gushes / falls / does not trickle. On the other hand, the reproduction of the Flavian meta (in the immediate vicinity of the Colosseum) on a sesterz (see Price / Trell 112) is somewhat out of line: two jets of water from the mouths of a Janus's head fall freely into a pool

 

Literature:

 

Martin, J .: The old Rome, Munich 1994

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Uploaded on September 4, 2018