Roman Collector Posted July 19, 2022 · Patron Share Posted July 19, 2022 (edited) This is a cool coin. I'm posting it now because there's not enough to say about it to warrant an installment of Faustina Friday. Don't laugh -- it may well be the finest known! Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman provincial Æ 16.4 mm, 2.77 g, 6 h. Mysia, Pitane, AD 147-161. Obv: ΦΑV-ϹΤЄΙΝΑ ϹЄ•, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: ΠΙΤΑΝ-ΑΙⲰΝ, cornucopia; to left, pentagram. Refs: RPC IV.2, 8132 (temp); Leypold, MÖNG 25 (1985), 87, no. 18. In Greek times, the port city of Pitane in the southernmost portion of Mysia was one of the members of the Aeolian League; these were Temnos, Smyrna, Pitane, Neonteichos, Aegirusa, Notium, Cilla or Killa, Kyme, Gryneum, Larissa, Myrina, and Aegae. It was situated at the mouth of a river, known in ancient times as either the Canaius (Pliny the Elder) or Pitanes (Ptolemy), and had two harbors. Map of Mysia from the Corpus Nummorum. Pitane is in southwest Mysia. The symbol of the city was the pentagram, and it struck coins depicting a pentagram over the course of a few centuries. In the Roman era, the city struck semi-autonomous coins as well as coins depicting the Roman emperor and his family. Coin production appears to have been intermittent during the Roman era, and limited to coins depicting Augustus, Gaius and Lucius, Nero, Trajan, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Faustina the Younger, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Julia Aquileia Severa, and Severus Alexander. I purchased the coin because it's of Faustina the Younger, but I also like the little pentagram on the reverse. Let's see your coins of Pitane! Edited July 19, 2022 by Roman Collector I have OCD 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Towner Posted July 19, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 19, 2022 Had never seen a provincial from Pitane. An interesting piece. Here's my typical little Pitane type with the pentagram: Pitane Mysia Ae; 4th-3rd Century BC Ox: Bust of Zeus Ammon right Rx: Pentagram; π–I–T–A–N around Size : 10mm, 1.1gms 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted July 19, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted July 19, 2022 (edited) Score! Big coingrats on that rarity Satan's a plenty. Here is a Pitane shield followed by the more common type: MYSIA. Pitane. Pseudo-autonomous. Time of Domitian (81-96). Ae. Obv: ΘЄA PΩMH. Turreted head of Roma right. Rev: ΠITANAIΩN. Pentagram within shield. RPC II -; RPC Supp. II 956B var. (obv. legend); SNG von Aulock 1431; SNG Copenhagen 539. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 2.03 g. Diameter: 17 mm. Purchased from Savoca Feb 2022 MYSIA, Pitane 4th-3rd centuries BC. Æ 8mm (0.70 g). Head of Zeus Ammon right / [Π]-I-Σ-O-Σ, pentagram with pellet in center. SNG France 2253-5 var. (rev. legend); SNG Copenhagen 535 var. (same); BMC 4, note. VF, deep dark patina. Rare with this reverse legend. Ex Zeus "The vast majority of Pitane’s coinage of the “Zeus Ammon / pentagram” type features an ethnic on the reverse. This rare specimen probably carries the name of a magistrate." Edited July 19, 2022 by Ryro 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
O-Towner Posted July 19, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 19, 2022 (edited) 43 minutes ago, Ryro said: Here is a Pitane shield followed by the more common type: The pentagram type you show has the lettering Π-I-Σ-O-Σ which is certainly scarcer than the issue with Π–I–T–A–N Edited July 19, 2022 by O-Towner 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted July 19, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted July 19, 2022 18 minutes ago, O-Towner said: The pentagram type you show has the lettering Π-I-Σ-O-Σ which is certainly scarcer than the issue with Π–I–T–A–N Good eye! I have updated with identifications. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted July 19, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 19, 2022 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsyas Mike Posted July 22, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 22, 2022 Here is a Seleucid issue from the "Pentalpha" Mint: Seleucid Kingdom Æ 15 Demetrios II Nikator (146-138 B.C.) (first reign) 'Pentalpha' Mint (Syria/Phoe.) Diademed head right / BAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY ΘEOY right, ΪIΛAΔEΛΪOY [NIKATOPEΣ] left. Cornucopiae between, pentalpha inner left. SC 1937; HGC 9, 998. (6.98 grams / 15 mm) eBay May 2020 Lot @ $3.75 Yeah, I didn't know what a pentalpha was either... pentalpha English[edit] Etymology[edit] From Ancient Greek πένταλφα (péntalpha), from πέντε (pente) and ἄλφα (alpha), five alphas. So called for its resemblance to five alphas superimposed at different rotations. Noun[edit] pentalpha (plural pentalphas) A pentagram. Synonyms[edit] pentagram pentangle https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pentalpha 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Posted July 22, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 22, 2022 Nice coins! Here are a couple from my collection: Mysia, Pitane Æ 10mm Circa 4th-3rd century BC Obverse: Head of Zeus Ammon right. Reverse: Π - I; Pentagram, pellet at center. References: BMC 2-3 var. 10mm; 1.36g Mysia, Pitane Æ 16mm Circa 4th century BC Obverse: Head of Zeus Ammon right. Reverse: Pentagram. References: SNG Copenhagen 530-531?; BMC 5? 16mm; 3.70g 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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