RIC VI, ALEXANDRIA [HEESCH 6b], DEO SANCTO SARAPIDI, UNLISTED OFFICINA A

6-2565

OBVERSE

DEOSANCT-OSARAPIDI [DEO SANCTO SARAPIDI]; head of Sarapis with modius, r.

REVERSE

DEOSANCTONILO [DEO SANCTO NILO]; Nilus reclining l., leaning on crocodile or hippopotamus, holding reed in r. hand and cornucopiae in l. A in left field. ALE in exergue.

NOT IN RIC

UNLISTED OFFICINA - A. The civic coinage minted under Maximinus II in 312 is completely absent from RIC VI. Already known to Cohen (cf. Cohen, vol. VIII, pp. 43-44, no. 1-5), but then it was thought to be minted under Julian II. Two issues listed in Voetter as "kleine Scheidemünzen" minted under Licinius after the death of Maximinus II (p. 46, no. 30-31; note incorrect weight given: 3.5 g instead 1.5 g, probably misprint). Catalogued in Vagi as the pagan coinage of the Great Persecution (pp. 516-517). However, the basic reference is still: Johan van Heesch, "The Last Civic Coinages and the Religious Policy of Maximinus Daza (AD 312)", Numismatic Chronicle 1993, pp. 65-75. Because of its availability, the present supplement lists only varieties omitted in Heesch.
Type listed in Heesch (p. 67, no. 6b), but only officinae B and Γ are attested (Δ is uncertain).

NOTES

Fraction. Weight 1.22 g; diameter 16 mm. Coin sold on CNG eAuction 468 (lot 577) in May 2020 for USD 600.
Other specimens:
- sold on Roma Numismatics eSale 110 (lot 1466) in August 2023 for GBP 550; weight 1.31 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture];
- sold on Leu Numismatik auction 15 (lot 302) in June 2024 for CHF 800; weight 2.00 g; diameter 15 mm [click for picture];
- sold on CNG eAuction 428 (lot 412) in September 2018 for USD 340; weight 1.71 g; diameter 15 mm [click for picture];
- sold on Heritage Auctions auction 61160 (lot 97501) in May 2020 for USD 138; weight 1.40 g; diameter 15 mm [click for picture];
- sold on Savoca Numismatik auction 224 (lot 599) in July 2024 for EUR 9; weight 1.08 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture];
- sold on Savoca Numismatik auction 243 (lot 303) in November 2024 for EUR 130; weight 1.31 g; diameter 16 mm; attribution uncertain, "A" in right field (?) [click for picture].