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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,456 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Sorting through more inventory, and this one stood out to me. Figured I should share  Galerius, as Caesar silvered Follis, ca. 299-299-303 MAXIMIANUS NOB CAES, Laureate bust right SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART / Δ, Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruit in both hands RIC VI, 426.28b  Was doing some research, and found this: https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?...&lot=1431848Looks like Leu has been buying up unsold lots from other European auction houses - this isn't the first one that I found in previous auction archives. Apart from the really nice silvering, what stood out is that unlike most coins of this type showing Carthage holding a cluster of grapes that dangles from her right hand, this one shows a different type of fruit - I'm honestly not sure what it is. I'd welcome insights, but I have never seen anyone attempt to describe the symbology of this type. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Beautiful high grade coin, congrats on a nice find.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
The fruits in the right hand look like softball sized orbs. Perhaps they represent pomegranates which were a fertility symbol in ancient times as well as symbolizing motherhood (chock full of babies !)
The other left hand ?
Well it's almost Mother's Day
So they must be the flowers !
Or more likely figs
Both figs and pomegranates would have been luxury items produced in the region for export to Rome
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
I bought a similar type last Friday But it has the "grapes" in right hand of Carthage But they are peculiar looking grapes aren't they Generally grapes come in bunches not strung out on ropes ! (maybe miniature tomato's for a Caesar salad)  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
I'd say ears of grain (left hand) and figs (right hand).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
Quote:
... have never seen anyone attempt to describe the symbology of this type. It'd seem to me that regardless of the fruit being offered, the message implied by her posture is that once mighty Carthage now serves Rome like a household slave. Certainly an awfully long time after the fact of her subjection to be taking a victory lap, but that's how I'd interpret the motif. Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
By the 4th century the Roman province of Africa had become the breadbasket of Rome. Roman Carthage (distinct from Phoenician Carthage) became a sort of "California" of the Empire. They produced and exported and were richly rewarded.
The Vandals weren't being stupid when they swapped sunny Spain for the North African Coast. They were able to starve Rome at will ! And from the close proximity sack the City when they were so inclined.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
You know we are a bit spoiled by modern agriculture and what we find in "supermarkets"
For all we know they might be eggplant like the ones I get for the wife at the local Mediterranean market.
About the size of small pears they are
Not football sized genetic mutations
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6130 Posts |
Here's another of the same type, produced a bit later under Maximinus II Daia (admittedly I thought it was Galerius until I just tried to look it up), here showing the 'grapes' again  |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,456 |
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Posted 05/08/2018 5:06 pm
