BITHYNIA, Prusa ad Olympum. Diadumenian. As Caesar, AD 217-218. Æ Diassarion (26mm, 7.04 g, 6h). Good VF.

Electronic Auction 571 – Session 1
Lot: 435.
Closing Date: Sep 25 2024 10:00 ET

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Estimate: $ 300

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BITHYNIA, Prusa ad Olympum. Diadumenian. As Caesar, AD 217-218. Æ Diassarion (26mm, 7.04 g, 6h). Bare head right / Ajax, wearing helmet and balteus, falling on his sword before a rocky outcropping; cuirass and shield on ground before him. RG 123. Dark brown patina, minor marks, some smoothing. Good VF. Very rare, only two in CoinArchives, this the finest of the three.

Ex Gorny & Mosch 155 (5 March 2007), lot 215; Tom Cederlind, 2007.

Ajax was regarded as the second greatest Greek warrior after Achilles. Following Achilles' death in battle with Paris (who was assisted by Apollo), Ajax and Odrysseus secured the hero’s body and armor from the Trojans. A feud erupted as to which of the two deserved Achilles’ armor and, after intense competition, the prize was awarded to Odrysseus. Ajax, consumed with anger and disappointment, took his own life by falling on his sword.

Closing Date and Time: 25 September 2024 at 12:24:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.