Help with Peeing Marsyas?

[KenDorney]

I picked this up at one of the lower tier auctions recently (you know, the ones with no description, just a photo).  I thought I had recognized it but when I went to attribute it I cant seem to find anything similar.  I just dont know.  Looks a bit like Hadrian, but could be any of the bearded emperors.  I just cant read the reverse letters at all, so I dont know what city to look under.  It was sold as 'Vespasian, Aeolis Aigai, 24mm, 6.81 grams'.  The reverse seems to show Marsyas with wineskin over shoulder holding his penis and urinating.  Or maybe I am seeing things.  Often we look too hard at something that others will instantly recognize, even common coins.

Any suggestions?

[Limes]

Difficulty with provincials is that the portraits can be anything from Augustus to one of the many so called soldier emperors.... But I dont think that is Vespasian. Maybe Claudius, or indeed Hadrian. 

The reverse could be Marsyas, but Ive never seen him without hand and head raised or the flutes. So either the arm is worn off, or its some variety, or it isnt Marsyas. Im thinking of the latter, also because the head of Marsyas seems to be not looking upwards. I also cant find coins from Aeolis Aigai with Marsyas on the reverse on a ACsearch.

Sorry, cant help any further with the pee pee mystery unfortunately. 

 

[Greekcoin21]

My god this one difficult.

[expat]

Opposite the figure on the reverse seems to a mirror image. Could it be 2 Victories facing and holding something between them?

[ambr0zie]

I enjoy attributing worn provincials but this is simply impossible. 

I recommend you to email the house (I just checked where you got the coin from). The gentleman who owns the house is skilled and friendly.  

Edited August 16, 2023 by ambr0zie

[Steppenfool]

I tried really hard but this was the closest reverse I found, Portrait isn't a good match.

 

 

 

URI	https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/6/8155 json ttl rdf xml
Volume	VI
Number	8155 (temporary)
Province	Syria Coele
Region	Syria
City	Laodicea ad Mare
Reign	Elagabalus
Person (obv.)	Elagabalus (Augustus)
Issue	Group 1b
Obverse inscription	[...] M AV ANTONEINVS [...]
Obverse design	laureate head of Elagabalus, r., with drapery
Reverse inscription	COL LAOD C METROPOL [...] Δ Ɛ
Reverse design	Marsyas standing, r., carrying wineskin on shoulder and raising hand in front of statue of goddess standing, l., wearing polos, hoding round shield and spear(?)

Edited August 16, 2023 by Steppenfool

[shanxi]

I don't know what it is, but could it be that the "object" is longer, e.g. like a caduceus?

 

 

Edited August 17, 2023 by shanxi

[AncientOne]

Augustus from Mallos like this:

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/4016A

[Limes]

3 hours ago, AncientOne said:

Augustus from Mallos like this:

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/4016A

Great find!

The description of he reverse leaves much to speculate (and research):

figure standing r., holding branch; uncertain object at feet to r.

A Note is added:

2 is from a different reverse die from 1, but is perhaps from the same obverse die. Butcher suggests an attribution to Tiberius, but he notes that the style is very different from that of other coins of the Julio-Claudian period. He identifies the figure on the reverse as Amphilochus.

Never heard of Amphilochus before!

[KenDorney]

I want to thank all who participated in the attribution of this very odd coin.  I have been so busy of late I just dont participate as much as I would like.  Anyway, as RPC only has 4 of these recorded I have submitted my example to the catalog.