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, and ours is much finer. Why the panthers on the reverse? Because panthers were were the companions of Dionysus!