I know; I know; it's the ides of March and we're all going to be talking about the death of Caesar. But it's ALSO the beginning of the Dionysia and the Bacchanalia! The bacchanalia were wild and mystic festivals of the Greco-Roman god Bacchus (or Dionysus), the wine god. The bacchanalia were rites originally held in ancient Greece as the Dionysia, probably from the 10th to the 16th of the month of Elaphebolion (the lunar month straddling the vernal equinox, i.e., Mar.-Apr in the solar calendar) to celebrate the end of winter and the harvesting of the year's crops. When the rites spread to Rome, they were secret and only attended by women, in later periods men were also admitted. The festivals occurred in the grove of Simila near the Aventine Hill on March 16 and March 17. Dionysus appears on coins with any of several accoutrements, such as a wreath of ivy, a thyrsus, a wine jug (oenochoe), or grapes. He is often accompanied by a panther. Here are some of my coins depicting Dionysus! Let's see yours! Let's make it a bacchanalia of Bacchus! Phrygia, Eumeneia, c. 133-130 BC. Greek Æ 21.1 mm, 6.66 g, 1 h. Menekrates, son of Askle-, magistrate. Obv: Head of young Dionysus wreathed with ivy, right. Rev: Tripod-lebes with three handles surmounted by flat cover fringed with spikes, star above and on either side; to right, EYMENE and filleted laurel branch (thyrsus?); to left, MENEKΡA/AΣKΛH and labrys (double axe) with serpent-entwined handle. Refs: BMC 25.212,14; SNG Copenhagen 382; SNG Tübingen 4008; Paris 1095; Mionnet IV, 563; SNG Oxford 1024-1025; Lindgren I 950; Istanbul 14718; Afyon 2973. Faustina Jr., 147-175. Roman provincial Æ 9.06 g, 24.7 mm, 7 h. Thrace, Anchialus, AD 147-149. Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ ΝΕΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: ΑNΧΙΑΛΕΩΝ, Dionysus standing left, holding cantharus and thyrsus; panther at feet, left. Refs: AMNG 434; RPC 4525; Varbanov 90; BMC --; SNG Copenhagen --. Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman provincial triassarion, 6.34 g, 23.4 mm, 7 h. Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175. Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝ-Α CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; band of pearls around head. Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC-ΠΑVΤΑΛΙ-ΑC, Dionysus seated on panther walking, r., resting r. arm on panther, holding thyrsus. Refs: RPC IV 8811; Ruzicka 99. Notes: Double die match to RPC IV 8811(4) = Ruzicka 99(4) = Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum 8775. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman provincial Æ tetrassarion, 13.76 g, 26 mm. Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum; Legate Aurelius Gallus, AD 201-204. Obv: ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΔΟ-ΜΝΑ CΕΒΑ, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: VΠ ΑVΡ ΓΑΛΛΟV-ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ | ΠΡΟC ΙCΤΡΟ, Dionysus standing left, naked except for boots, holding bunch of grapes and thyrsus, panther at foot left. Refs: AMNG I 1456; Varbanov 2897; H&J, Nikopolis 8.17.8.1 corr. (rev. legend); Mionnet Sup. 2, p. 134, 457 and pl. III, no 6. Antony and Octavia. AR cistophorus, 25.6 mm, 11.71 gm. Ephesus, 39 BCE. Obv: M ANTONINVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT, Jugate heads of Marcus Antonius and Octavia to right; he wears ivy wreath. Rev: III VIR RPC, Cista mystica surmounted by figure of Bacchus, standing to left, holding cantharus and leaning on thyrsus; on either side, coiled serpent. Refs: SNG Cop. 408; SNG von Aulock 6555; Franke KZR 472; RSC 3; Sydenham 1198; RPC 2202; Sear 1513; BMCRR East 135. Septimius Severus, AD 193-211. Roman AR Denarius, 3.22 g, 16.5 mm, 11 h. Rome Mint, AD 194. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP III, laureate head, right. Rev: LIBERO PATRI, Liber standing facing, head left, cloak over left shoulder, holding oenochoe and thyrsus; at feet left, panther standing left, catching drips from the jug. Refs: RIC 32; BMCRE 64-65; Cohen 301; RCV 6307; Hill 84.
A wonderful idea for a thread, and some very nice coins! A Happy Bacchanalia to you. But please take my advice and avoid wandering in the woods at night for the next little while, lest you accidentally come upon a group of maenads in a frenzied state. The outcome would probably not be good for you. Here's a coin of Dionysos: Lydia, Philadelphia, AE 17, Late 2nd/Early 1st Centuries BCE, Hermippos, son of Hermogenes,* archiereus [magistrate]. Obv. Head of young Dionysos right, wearing ivy-wreath and band across forehead, [Φ]ΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΕ[ΩΝ] vertically behind / Rev. Spotted pantheress [leopard] walking left, with head turned back to right, cradling thyrsos bound with fillet (ribbon) against left shoulder, right foreleg raised; ΑΡΧΙΕΡ-ΕΥΣ above, ΕΡΜΙΠΠΟΣ in exergue. Seaby II 4720 [Sear, D., Greek Coins and their Values, Vol. II, Asia & Africa (Seaby 1979), at p. 430 (ill.)]; BMC 22 Lydia 16 [Head, B.V. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Lydia (London 1901) at p. 189]; SNG Von Aulock II 3057 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia (Berlin 1962)]; SNG Copenhagen 340 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 27, Lydia Part 1 (Copenhagen 1947)]; Imhoof-Blumer 8 [Imhoof-Blumer, Friedrich, Lydische Stadtmünzen, neue Untersuchungen (Leipzig 1897) at pp. 114-115]; Mionnet IV No. 536 [Mionnet, Théodore E., Description de Médailles antiques grecques et romaines, Vol. IV, Lydie (Paris 1809) at p. 98]. 17 mm., 5.02 g. [With old collector’s envelope.] * Father’s name known from other coins. Dionysos also plays a supporting role on this coin: Lydia, Tralleis/Tralles, AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm, 78/77 BCE, Magistrate ΠTOΛ (Ptol-). Obv. Cista mystica with lid ajar and serpent emerging; all within ivy wreath / Rev. Bowcase (gorytos) with two serpents (one to left and one to right, heads at top); H [= date = Year 8 = 78/77 BCE, based on Year 1 of the Sullan era being 85/84 BCE*] over ΠTOΛ [PTOL] above, between serpents’ heads, TPAΛ [TRAL] in left field; to right, Dionysos in short chiton standing facing, head left, holding thyrsos in right hand and mask of Silenos in left hand. SNG Copenhagen 662-663 var. [different year] [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 28, Lydia Part 2 (Copenhagen 1947)]; BMC 22 Lydia 46-48 (p. 333) var. [different years] [Head, B.V., A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 22, Lydia (London, 1901); SNG von Aulock 3262-3264 var. [different year] [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock, Vol. 2: Caria, Lydia, Phrygia, Lycia, Pamphylia (Berlin, 1962)]; Pinder 159 [same year -- “H”]; see also id. 157-158 [different years] [Pinder, M., Über die Cistophoren und über die kaiserlichen Silbermedaillons der Römischen Provinz Asien (Berlin, 1856) at pp. 565-566]. 24 mm., 12.64 g. [probably = 3 drachms, not 4], 1 h. Ex: CNG Auction 225 (13 Jan. 2010), Lot 144. Don't forget Liber, another Roman equivalent besides Bacchus. And then there are Silenus and Pan. Roman Republic, C. Vibius Varus, AR Denarius, 42 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Bacchus (or Liber)* right, wearing earring and wreath of ivy and grapes / Rev. Spotted panther [leopard]springing left towards garlanded altar on top of which lies a bearded mask of Silenus or Pan**, and against which leans a thyrsus with fillet (ribbon); C • VIBIVS in exergue, VARVS upwards to right. Crawford 494/36, RSC I Vibia 24, Sear RCV I 496, Sear Roman Imperators 192 (ill. p. 116), Sydenham 1138, BMCRR 4295. 17 mm., 3.60 g. Ex. Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 83, May 20, 2015, Lot 83; ex. Frank Sternberg Auction 17, Zurich, May 1986, Lot 519. *The identification of the obverse head as Bacchus or Liber is essentially immaterial. See Jones, John Melville, A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins (Seaby, London, 1990) at p. 33 (entry for “Bacchus”): “For the Romans . . . . [Bacchus] was generally identified with the Italian deity Liber, whose name is probably derived from the same root as the word ‘libation,’ suggesting that in Italy he was an earth or vegetation spirit who could be worshipped by pouring offerings upon the ground. . . . Bacchus appears rarely upon Roman imperial coins (and when he is given a name, he is called Liber). He is shown as a youthful male figure, nude or partly draped, perhaps with a wreath of ivy leaves. He may bear a thyrsus and be accompanied by Ariadne, a bacchant or maenad, or a panther.” **The mask has more frequently been identified with Pan than with Silenus, but because the moneyer’s branch of the gens Vibia lacks the cognomen “Pansa” (a reason for the appearance of Pan on the coins of moneyers with that cognomen, as a pun), Silenus appears to be a more likely identification, given the association of Silenus with Bacchus. See Jones, supra at p, 289, identifying Silenus as “[a]n elderly attendant of Bacchus.” See also id. at p. 234 (entry for “Pan”), noting that “[a] bearded head which appears on [the obverse of] a silver sestertius of T. Carisius [46 BC), with a reverse type of a panther bearing a thyrsus, has been identified as Pan but is more likely to be a Silenus, matching the Bacchic reverse type.” This guy is definitely Silenus: Hellenistic molded Pottery Mask of Silenos, ca. 3rd century BCE, grapevines in hair, traces of original black and white pigment. 5" H. Purchased from Artemis Gallery, Colorado USA, May 31, 2011; ex. Collection of Harvey Sarner, Palm Springs, CA (1934-2007), acquired 1984:
Good topic and coins! I've got one that is not exactly Dionysos and Bacchus and Bacchanalia, but a lesser-known set of rites and deities that share much in common with and are probably related to them: Kabeiros and his drinking festivals (specifically at Thessalonica). The following example (NOT MINE) shows Kabeiros holding a particularly voluminous Rhyton (drinking horn). RPC II, 327 (Thessalonica, Flavian?), spec. #13, from CNG EA 214, 290: (Note, I've posted some comments previously, so there may be some copy-pasting and some paraphrasing from my own text/notes.) Coins of Thessalonica tend to be of special historical interest partly because of the city's association with the Biblical “Thessalonians” and "Acts." Since the Biblical texts describe the Thessalonian pagans engaging in ritual drunkenness and sexuality, scholars have often believed that the "drunken pagans" were worshipping Dionysos. However, a similar cult was that of Kabeiros, who also happened to be the Patron God of Thessaloniki (at least in the Roman period). Wherever archaeological and later historical sources refer to the "cult of Dionysos" or "temple of Dionysos" in Thessalonica (as they often do), we should probably substitute Kabeiros as the more accurate local incarnation (at least by the late first century CE). Although Kabeiric worship is little understood, it was clearly related to the cult of Dionysos: wine-drinking was a central rite, evidenced by the curved drinking vessels – tusks known as rhyta or rhytons – which are the standard paraphernalia with which Kabeiros is depicted (and usually a hammer). It is my opinion (I still need to check what Touratsoglou wrote about these) that the curved features at each corner of the temple on this coin (see also the next) represent the upturned drinking vessels, or rhyta. At the apex, it appears there may also be an inverted hammer between two crossed rhyta. Macedon, Thessalonica. Philip II AE27, 2nd Pythian Games issue, depicting the Temple of Kabeiros on the reverse. RPC VII.2 (Temp) 69113 (this coin illustrated) (Unlike the other two, this one IS MINE): The corner decoration detail is stronger on this earlier example from Gordian III (struck for the first Pythian Games, "ΠΥΘΙΑ" in exergue), clearly depicting the same temple. RPC VII.2 (Temp) 59074 = Touratsoglou 167/352 = Weber 2297 = BM 1920,0805.1684. Again, this one is NOT MINE: The reverse legend on my coin (exergue: ΠΥΘΙΑΔΙ Β) indicates it was struck on the occasion of the Second Pythian Games at Thessalonica (see Head, Historia Numorum; these are local/regional games, not the major panhellenic Pythiad at Delphi). Based on ample numismatic (and limited epigraphic) evidence, the games were held in honor of Kabeiros. The temple depicted is almost certainly a Temple of Kabeiros (on other coins of Thessalonica a cult statue of Kabeiros appears inside of it). There was a "sacred area" in Thessalonica where Jewish and Pagan temples have been excavated by archaeologists (Verhoef 2011; see also Edson 1948; Vickers 1972; the bibliography (for my related reddit post) links these refs online). However, this particular temple has not been found. "Temple sharing" was likely practiced, so the temple may not have been Kabeiros' alone. This image may be a good likeness (it remains highly consistent across issues and reigns), but it may also be an idealized temple archetype.
Great coins and enjoyed the write ups.. Pontos, Amisos. temp. Mithradates VI, c. 105-85 or 85-65 BC. Æ (16mm, 3.98g, 12h). Struck under Mithradates VI. Obverse..Ivy wreathed head of Dionysos right. Reverse..Filleted thyrsos, bell attached with fillet, AMI-ΣOY flanking across field, monogram lower right. Mint..Amisos (Samsun, Turkey) SNG Black Sea 1192-5; HGC 7, 251.
I'm currently at work so I can't double check...but I'm fairly certain I don't have anything depicting Dionysos. Guess I will just have to tip back the amphora in honor of Bacchanalia instead.
Happy Bacchanalia! I'll bring the wine and some groovy tunes. Phrygia, Philomelium. Caracalla AE24. AD 198-217. Obv: ANTωNЄINOC ΠЄ AY Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind. Rev: ЄΠI AΔPIANO ΦΙΛOMHΛ Dionysos standing facing, head to left, kolding Kantharos in his right hand and thyrsos with his left; to left at feet, panther. Magistrate Adrianos. Lydia, Philadelphia. Pseudo-autonomus AE22. Magistrate DOKIMOS Tyche bust right. Dionysos standing left, holding cantharus and thyrsus; panther at his feet. Time of Septimius Severus.
That's a tall order for a Constantine collector, but here's something pretty close... This is a cast copy (mine) of a bronze Constantine medallion in the Florence archeological museum (2nd coin). Here's a slightly clearer specimen from Vienna. The type is RIC VII Rome 279. Obv: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG Rev: GLORIA SAECVLI VIRTVS CAESS The type has been dated to 326 AD, so perhaps issued for Constantine's vicennial celebrations when he was in Rome. This was also the decennalia of the caesars Crispus and Constantine II, perhaps hence the reverse type. The pagan reverse really is quite extraordinary, especially for such a late date (which has to be about right given the diademed bust type). We have our Christian emperor Constantine, apparently channeling Jupiter, bare chested and holding a sceptre, while the standing figure, interpreted as Crispus, hands him a phoenix on globe. At Crispus' feet, head bowed to the master, is an unmistakable panther, the favored mount of Dionysus/Bacchus. Crispus therefore appears to be cast as Dionysus, which is appropriate since Dionysus was son of Zeus (and Crispus son of Constantine, here cast as Zeus/Jupiter). Assuming the 326 date/occasion is correct, this optimistic celebratory type is rather poignant given that Constantine would have Crispus killed a mere few week later. Also, here's a photo I took of the Dionysus sarcophagus (c.220-230 AD) at the Metropolitan museum, showing Dionysus riding a panther. You can see the full sarcophagus (also featuring the Four Seasons, Tellus and Oceana) here: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254819
Nice idea for a thread! Some of the coins shown here could almost tempt me to add Roman provincial coinage to my collecting interests. Duly noted. I'll try to keep safe distance from any drunk individual dressed in leopard print and frantically wielding a large thyrsus stick... Here are a Greek Dionysos and a Roman Bacchus/Liber. I particularly like the second coin: Kingdom of Cappadocia, under Archelaus, Æ18, 24/23 BC (?), Eusebeia mint. Obv: Head Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev: EVΣΕ – ΒΕΙΑΣ, eagle over Mount Argaios. 18mm, 5.02g. Ref: RPC I, 3610. Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 194 AD, Rome mint. Obv: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP III, head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: LIBERO PATRI, Bacchus (Liber), wreathed, naked except for cloak over left arm, emptying oenochoe in r. hand over panther, and holding garlanded thyrsus in l. hand 17.5mm, 2.53g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 32.
Happy Dyonisia (or Bacchanalia)to all! Nothing to harvest here just yet, but the snow is beginning to melt( at least during the daytime, at night it's still -15C) and the sun is out, so it feels like spring. On this Nagidos stater Dyonisos looks more dignified than ecstatic. I love the flowing drapery on his chiton and the shape of the thyrsos; in my mind's eye, I can almost see the honey dripping from it. I can't make out the details in the wreath, but I'm sure it's ivy, as it should be. Whoever the engraver was, he had talent and he took his time for this one. I'm happy to have this coin in my collection. (same coin with a cubist Aphrodite on the obverse): And here is Dionysos in terracotta. I'm still waiting on this one to be delivered, but I'm looking forward to it. Some people I've shown the pic to think Far East, but it's from Magna Graecia. 'Relief plaque'? ('Reliefplakette' in German) in the shape of a Dionysos mask. South Italy, probably Capua, late 6th century BC. Height 4,7 cm. without stand (seller's description).
Nobody ever invites me to bacchanalias these days. But always glad to jump in on a CT digital version. I recently got what I assume is infant Dionysos riding a cat - one of my favorites of 2022 so far: Geta Æ 14 (c. 198-209 A.D.) Bithynia, Nicaea ΓETAC [KA]ICAΡ, draped bust right / NIKAIEΩN, Dionysos riding panther right. See notes for attribution. (3.12 grams / 14 mm) eBay Feb. 2022 Lot @ $4.70 Note: Only reference to this was Wildwinds, example, which is a rev. die match to mine, but head, not draped bust obverse: JHE auction 11, lot 50. Found two others on acsearch, one head, one draped bust, but no references. Draped examples is: Savoca Blue Auction 87, Lot 873, 17.10.2020 Coin Talk query no reply, March 2022. One of my favorites from last year is another Dionysos from a big lot sent to my by CTer @tenbobbit This one is from Teos in Ionia and is overstruck (double struck?) over another coin of Teos. It was tough (but enjoyable) to figure out, but I found an RPC example that looks a lot like mine, including a note on the overstrike (I don't often get lucky like this): Flavian Period? Æ 19 Ionia, Teos (c. 70s-90s A.D.) ΘEON CYNK[ΛITΩN], laureate and draped bust of Senate right / THIΩN, Dionysus standing left, kantharos in right, thyrsus in left, winged griffin left at feet. RPC II, 1042; SNG Cop 1492. (Overstruck; see notes) (4.19 grams / 20 mm) @tenbobbit Oct. 2021 Attribution Notes: Overstruck on Teos (THIΩN visible from undertype); see RPC example 1: "Coin 1 (P 2902) is overstruck on a coin of Nero (traces of head, r., on rev.... The overstriking (cf. 1043/4 in Winterthur), as well as the die Axis: and the similarity to coins of Domitian, suggests that the coin perhaps belongs to his reign as a smaller denomination." rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/1042 Here's a detail of the over/under strike: The RPC main example looks a lot like mine: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/2/1042
Okay, one more, since I don't think anyone's shared this type yet: Liber or Bacchus, looking very pleased with how the Bacchanalia is progressing, paired with Pegasos, so he can fly away once the party gets out of hand: Q. Titius, c. 90 BCE. AR Denarius (3.98g, 20mm, ~1.5h). Ex-jewelry. Ref: Crawford 341/2; Titia 2; Sear RCV 239; Sydenham 692. Prov: Ex-Forum RR43729 (n.d.; purchased by my father, c. pre-2005?). (This one doesn't seem to be available online from Forum's archive of past sales anymore, but to my great surprise I found someone's saved image (on Scribd) of the Forum listing -- saved while it was still active!)
Excellent thread idea and coins RC! Been a busy day at work so hadn't had time to post. It was either Aerosmith dude looks like a lady or Burden spoiling that wine. And in my attempts to understand gender fluidity better and not judge others or have them feel pigeon holed, we're going with Eric:
That's a truly fascinating medallion! Its use of pagan iconography is a reminder that the delineation between the old and new religion was at the time far from clear. Here's a provincial with the original father and son pairing... PHRYGIA, Laodicea ad Lycum AE Diassarion. 4.04g, 21.6mm. PHRYGIA, Laodicea ad Lycum, pseudo-autonomous issue, circa AD 198-217 (time of Caracalla). SNG Cop 542; SNG von Aulock 3381; BMC 124-5. O: ΔHMOC, Head of the Demos of Laodicea right. R: ΛAOΔIKEΩN, Zeus standing facing, head turned to right, gazing at the infant Dionysos who he holds in his left arm; at Zeus's feet to left, the goat Amalthea.
