BITHYNIA, Prusa ad Olympum. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Diassarion (24mm, 7.70 g, 12h). Fine.

Electronic Auction 561
Lot: 421.
Closing Date: May 1 2024 10:00 ET

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Estimate: $ 100

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BITHYNIA, Prusa ad Olympum. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Diassarion (24mm, 7.70 g, 12h). Laureate head right / Ajax the Great, wearing helmet and balteus, falling on his sword before a rocky outcropping; shield on ground before him. RG 102; SNG von Aulock 873. Brown surfaces, light roughness, short flan crack. Fine. Rare mythological type.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 487 (10 March 2021), lot 323.

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: 1 May 2024 at 12:20:00 ET.

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