Tranquillina with the Three Graces

[Jeremy]

This AE 25 of Tranquillina (wife of Gordian III) was struck in the Roman colony of Cremna in Pisidia, which is located in modern day Turkey. Tranquillina (born circa 225) was the daughter of the Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus by an unknown wife. She's shown wearing a stephane, a metal headband, and appears in front of a crescent.

The reverse features the Three Graces, named Aglaea, Euphrosyne and Thalia, who were commonly said to be daughters of Zeus and an Oceanid (daughter of the ocean) named Eurynome. Homer described them as attendants of the goddess Aphrodite. They would sing and dance for the other Olympians during feasts and dances.

They seem to appear mainly on Roman provincial coins. They are commonly portrayed in an interlocking pose, with the one in the center facing backward and draping her arms over the the shoulders of the other two Graces, who face forward. It's hard to see in this coin, but the graces on each side hold flowers.

Pisidia, Cremna, Tranquillina (wife of Gordian III) Æ 25mm

238-244 AD
Obverse: SAB TRANQVILLINAM AVGVS[TAM]; Draped bust of Tranquillina right, wearing stephane, crescent behind.
Reverse: COL CREM - N - E - NSIVM; The Three Graces, arm in arm, the one on the left and right each holding a flower.
References: SNG von Aulock, Pisidien II, 1423; SNG Paris 1512.
25mm,  12.11g

Feel free to share any related examples!

Edited May 26, 2022 by Jeremy

[GordianAppreciator101]

Adding a Tranquillina of my own, this one coming with Gordian III, really shows how much the greek world appreciated the girl (proof of this is how common her provincials are) and how little the Roman world appreciated the girl (proof of this is how uncommon her Imperials are). Truly showing the disdain the Senate showed to the Greek Timesitheus, who had basically seized power from the Latin-speaking elites, even if nominally under Gordian's command. 

Obverse: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ CЄB / TPANKVΛΛINA. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III. facing draped bust of Tranquillina.
Reverse: OVΛΠIAC AΓXIAΛEΩN. Tyche standing left, holding cornucopiae and patera.

[Jeremy]

3 minutes ago, GordianAppreciator101 said:

Adding a Tranquillina of my own, this one coming with Gordian III, really shows how much the greek world appreciated the girl (proof of this is how common her provincials are) and how little the Roman world appreciated the girl (proof of this is how uncommon her Imperials are). Truly showing the disdain the Senate showed to the Greek Timesitheus, who had basically seized power from the Latin-speaking elites, even if nominally under Gordian's command. 

Obverse: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ CЄB / TPANKVΛΛINA. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III. facing draped bust of Tranquillina.
Reverse: OVΛΠIAC AΓXIAΛEΩN. Tyche standing left, holding cornucopiae and patera.

Excellent example with the facing busts! That's interesting to learn she was so snubbed in Rome and beloved elsewhere.

[zumbly]

Wow, nice one, @Jeremy!  The Graces on your coin are posed very elegantly indeed!

COMMODUS
AE25. 7.69g, 25mm.
MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis. H&J 6.10.26.4 (this coin illustrated); RPC IV online 4319; AMNG I 540; Varbanov 702 corr. (direction of heads).
O: ΑΥ ΚΑΙ Λ ΑΥΡΗ ΚΟΜΟΔΟС, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛƐΙΤΩΝ, the Three Graces standing facing, heads left, right, and right, respectively: the left holds oinochoe over dolphin, the center drapes arms over others, and the right holds wreath over oinochoe.
Ex Dr. George Spradling Collection; ex Alexandre de Barros Collection (CNG E143, 12 July 2006, lot 115); ex CNG 47 (16 Sep 1998) lot 833

[Etcherdude]

@Jeremy wonderful classical  contrapposto happening in those willowy figures, like you’d expect to see in 1st century examples.

Edited May 26, 2022 by Etcherdude

[ambr0zie]

Congratulations for the coin, Jeremy.

Adding a Tranquilina imperial example is a next to impossible goal for 99.99% of the collectors, so a nice provincial (with an elegant reverse) is an excellent addition.

Here is my only example of a coin with the Three Graces reverse. Corroded but not bad at all in hand, plus a gigantic 37 mm and 26 grams coin.

 CILICIA, Tarsus. Maximinus I. 235-238 AD. AE Hexassarion
Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Γ ΙΟΥ ΟΥΗ ΜΑΞΙΜƐΙΝΟϹ Π Π, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear / Rev: ΤΑΡϹΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ Α Μ Κ Γ Β,  the three Graces standing facing with arms around each other, one head l., the others head r., each holding flower.
RPC VI, 7113 (temporary); SNG Levante 1096, BMC 233–4

 

[Roman Collector]

I'll contribute this one, one of the last coins in the Roman provincial series to depict the Three Graces.


Volusian as Augustus, late AD 251-AD 253.
Roman provincial Æ 20.1 mm, 5.91 g, 1 h.
Bithynia, Nicaea, AD 151.
Obv: ΑΥ Κ ΒΕΙΒ ΓΑΛΛΟC ΟΥΟΛΟCCΙΑΝΟC, radiate head, right.
Rev: ΝΙΚ Α Ι Ε ΩΝ, Three Graces standing side by side, hair in bun: Grace 1 head left, Graces 2 and 3 heads right, holding undefined objects.
Refs: RPC IX, 311; Sear GI 4366; BMC 13.174,139-140; SNG Von Aulock 712; Imhoof-Blumer NC 201; Waddington RG 498,784; Von Vacano 392; Staal 53.1.1; Weiser 165-167.

[Jeremy]

15 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

I'll contribute this one, one of the last coins in the Roman provincial series to depict the Three Graces.


Volusian as Augustus, late AD 251-AD 253.
Roman provincial Æ 20.1 mm, 5.91 g, 1 h.
Bithynia, Nicaea, AD 151.
Obv: ΑΥ Κ ΒΕΙΒ ΓΑΛΛΟC ΟΥΟΛΟCCΙΑΝΟC, radiate head, right.
Rev: ΝΙΚ Α Ι Ε ΩΝ, Three Graces standing side by side, hair in bun: Grace 1 head left, Graces 2 and 3 heads right, holding undefined objects.
Refs: RPC IX, 311; Sear GI 4366; BMC 13.174,139-140; SNG Von Aulock 712; Imhoof-Blumer NC 201; Waddington RG 498,784; Von Vacano 392; Staal 53.1.1; Weiser 165-167.

Nice coin! I recognize that one! 🙂

[Qcumbor]

A very elegant reverse on the OP

 

On 5/26/2022 at 3:34 PM, Jeremy said:

Feel free to share any related examples!

My Tranquillina drachm ex @Stevex6 (we miss you buddy !)

Tranquillina, Drachm - Cappadocia, Caesarea- Eusebia, AD 241-244
Tranquillina, Augusta, AR Drachm - Dated Regnal year 4 of Gordian III (AD 240/1)
CABINIA TPANKVΛΛINA AV Draped bust right, wearing stephane
MHTPO KAICA B N E Mount Argaeus ЄT Δ (date) in exergue
2.72 grams - 18 mm
Ref : Bland, Last # 58, Sydenham, Caesarea Supp # 617a
Ex CNG e-auction 354, #352
Ex Steve P. collection

Q

[Ryro]

Julia Domna and the the nakeds...I mean Graces:

[Kali]

A fantastic provincial. Don't see this very often.