RPC Online Feature Coin
THRACE, Philippopolis. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ (34mm, 20.95 g, 7h). Kendrisian-Pythian Games issue. AVT K M AVPHΛIOC ANTΩNEINOC CEB, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / KENΔPEICEIA ПYΘIA EN ΦIΛIППO ПOΛI NEΩ/KOPΩ, octastyle temple with colonnaded side porch viewed in three-quarter view left; clipeus in pediment. Varbanov,
Philippopolis XVII.11.2.2.4.1 (O3/R2) = RPC VI 505.9 (
this coin); Varbanov 1659 (same rev. die illustration). Dark green patina, smoothed, reverse die shift. EF. Rare.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 88 (14 September 2011), lot 780; Leu 72 (12 May 1998), lot 489.
In AD 218, after winning the throne in a brief civil war with Macrinus, the young Emperor Antoninus Bassianus, known to history as Elagabalus, visited Philippopolis in Thrace during his triumphal procession back to Rome. The visit happened to coincide with the second holding of the Kendrisian-Pythian Games, originally granted to the city by the Emperor Caracalla in AD 214. The civic celebration was hastily repurposed to honor the new emperor. Originally founded as one of four Panhellenic Games during the sixth century BC, the first Pythian Games were said to have been held by Apollo in penance for the killing of Python at the sanctuary of Delphi on the isthmus of Corinth. Although the main Pythian Games were held at Delphi, many other cities throughout the Roman Empire periodically held “franchise” versions of the tournaments, including athletic contests as well as music, poetry and oratory competitions. This impressive bronze, struck for the occasion, refers to the games and depicts an elaborate Neokorate temple, dedicated to the emperor’s cult, in an unusual three-quarters perspective view. The temple was likely originally constructed and dedicated in honor of Caracalla upon his visit four years earlier, but was no doubt rededicated to Elagabalus for the occasion.
