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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 
312, Lot: 149. Estimate $750.
Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Pergamum. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Medallion (35mm, 25.56 g, 12h). Marcus Caerelius Attalus, magistrate. Struck circa AD 215. Laureate bust right, wearing [cuirass decorated with gorgoneion], but cuirass tooled to look like drapery; c/m: crown / The imperial entrance (adventus) into the city of Pergamum: emperor, wearing military attire, on horseback right, turning to left and raising right arm, being trailed by attendant; to right, cippus surmounted by statue of Asclepius. SNG France 2231-2 var. (rev. legend continued in field and in two lines in exergue); BMC 321 var. (slightly different arrangement of exergual portion of rev. legend); for c/m: Howgego 480. VF, dark green patina, lightly smoothed in a few areas, tooling of details, particularly in the hair and on the bust as noted above.


This medallion is part of a highly interesting series that has long fascinated numismatists. Taken as a whole, the group chronicles the major events of Caracalla’s visit to Pergamum en route to an eastern military expedition in AD 214. While this was only one stop on a trip that that included imperial visits to the major cities and religious sites of Asia Minor, Pergamum’s sanctuary of Asclepius (the Asclepion) was of particular appeal to Caracalla, whose health declined precipitously in the latter years of his reign. On other medallions from the series we see either Tyche (personification of the city) or a leading magistrate presenting the emperor with a miniature cult image of Asclepius upon his arrival, Caracalla visiting the sacred grove adjacent to the Asclepion, and various scenes of sacrifices being offered to Asclepius.