PONTUS, Uncertain mint. Late 1st century BC. Æ (22mm, 7.30 g, 12h).

Electronic Auction 513
Lot: 264. Estimated: $ 150

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 110. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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PONTUS, Uncertain mint. Late 1st century BC. Æ (22mm, 7.30 g, 12h). Bare head right; Q (quaestor) below / Two togate figures standing facing, preparing to sacrifice pig; FETIA below. RPC I 2156 (same obv. die as ilustration); Imhoof-Blumer, GRMK 281; Leypold, “Schwurszene (Fetia) auf einer unbekannten römischen Bronzemünze,” MÖNG Vol. XX, no. 10 (1978), pp. 78-79 = SNG Leypold 69 (same obv. die). Brown patina with earthen deposits, pitting on reverse, minor smoothing. Near VF.

Ex Peter J. Merani collection. Ex Nomos Obolos 4 (21 February 2016), lot 309.

Making sense of this rare issue is plagued with difficulties. Imhoof-Blumer placed it at Amisus, where Leypold acquired his specimen, but while this is not unlikely it is far from secure. In addition, the dating is problematic, with Leypold preferring a date of 100-50 BC, while the authors of RPC placed the issue toward the late 1st century BC, although admitting (p. 361) that there is “no good evidence for its date.” These two uncertainties make identifying the individualized portrait on the obverse even more difficult. A client king would seem logical, but the head lacks a diadem.

Turning to the reverse, we find an unusual legend in the exergue. It was first read by Imhoof Blumer as ΓETIA. Leypold read it as FETIA, putting forward the argument that the scene refers to a fetial ceremony - the sacrifice of a pig to sanctify a treaty - although what treaty this issue should be associated with is uncertain. Adding to the confusion, the legend on many specimens clearly begin with an “E” rather than an “F”. Finally, as the authors of RPC appropriately note (p. 361): “Indeed, the use of Latin might perhaps be a problem for almost any attribution, as the fetial ceremony would not be appropriate in the case of a colony.”

Closing Date and Time: 6 April 2022 at 11:27:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.