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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 

The Triumph of Dionysus

308, Lot: 231. Estimate $200.
Sold for $425. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ (31mm, 14.63 g, 12h). Radiate and cuirassed bust right; c/m: annulet within Δ within triangular incuse / Dionysus, his panther skin over his arm and extending behind him, holding thyrsus in right hand and cantharus from which he pours wine in left, driving biga of panthers right; to right, Silenus kneeling right, his head and upper body turned to left. SNG France –; SNG Levante –; SNG Pfälzer –; CNG 87, lot 864 (same dies); for c/m: Howgego 670. Near VF, earthen green patina. Rare.


This issue adopts a frequently encountered subject in Roman art: the Triumph of Dionysus. Recalling images of Roman triumphal processions, the scene celebrates Dionysus' return from India and his successes in spreading his cult in the east. Such scenes were particularly appropriate for sarcophagi, where they served as symbols of the deceased’s triumph over death.

While the theme of the Triumph of Dionysus is recurrent in Roman art, the details of the scene and the retinue included can vary widely. In fact, we find on coins of Seleucia two very different scenes of Dionysus’ triumphal procession:

1) As on the current coin, with Dionysus standing right in a chariot, pouring out wine which a drunken Silenus stumbles to catch drops of. This type was also struck for Septimius Severus and Julia Domna (SNG France 979; SNG Levante 738), a mature Caracalla (SNG France 986; SNG Levante 746; SNG Pfälzer 1054), and Gordian III (SNG Levante 775).

2) The second type shows the procession moving left, with Dionysus seated in a car drawn by two panthers, holding a cantharus and thyrsus. A figure of Silenus dances above the panthers. This type was struck under Septimius Severus and Julia Domna (SNG Levante 739) and Caracalla (SNG Levante 748).

While the two scenes are quite different, the details of the repeated individual types are very specific. This could perhaps suggest that they are both copying acclaimed works of art in Seleucia.