The Themian Games

172, Lot: 94. Estimate $100. Sold for $170. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Corycus. Valerian I. AD 253-260. Æ 29mm (16.18 g). Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Dionysus standing left, holding grapes and thyrsus; panther at feet, tripod table before with prize crown marked QEMIA that contains a caduceus, palm, and aplustre. SNG Levante 819 (same obverse die); SNG France 1122 (same obverse die). VF, brown patina with a trace of green.

From The John A. Seeger Collection.

The presiding deity of the Themian games was the goddess Themis, personification of Justice and Order. qema also means a deposit, usually of money, and the Themian games were unusual in having a cash prize for the winners, unlike the more typical awards of wreaths, wine, oil, celery and so forth.