The Sacred, Iselastic Games of the Anazarbans, Year 199

[Roman Collector]

I recently picked up this misattributed Roman provincial coin of Crispina from Anazarbus at one of the many bargain auctions on Biddr. Its sole description was "Faustina Minor (wife of Marcus Aurelius) bronze coin. Obv: Bust of Empress. Rev: Inscription in Wreath." It turns out the reverse inscription is quite interesting. Its unabbreviated form reads ἱερὸς ἰσελαστικὸς Ἀναζαρβέων ἔτους θϙρʹ, which is translated, "the sacred, iselastic games of the Anazarbans, year 199." Year 199 of the city corresponds to 180/1 CE.

Crispina, 178-182 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 19.1 mm, 6.18 g, 11 h.
Cilicia, Anazarbus, 180/1 CE.
Obv: ΚΡΙϹΠЄΙΝΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΙЄΡΟϹ ΙϹЄ (in three lines in wreath), ΑΝΑΖΑΡΒЄⲰΝ ЄΤ ΘϘΡ around, palm branch below.
Refs: RPC IV.3, 3657 (temporary); Sear GIC 2096; Ziegler Anazarbos 229; SNG BN 2043.

So, what are these "iselastic games"? Our own @Ed Snible (lxxviii) explains:

ΕΙΣΕΛΑΣΤΙΚΑ. Contests in which the victor was authorized by the Emperor, on his return to his native city, to make his entry, εισελαυνειν, in a triumphal quadriga through a breach made for the occasion in the city wall, and entitled thenceforth to a daily dole either of food or of money, οψωνιον. Various αγονες were established as iselastic by different emperors, but the privilege might be arbitrarily withdrawn or transferred to other contests. See Pliny's Letter to Trajan and Trajan’s rescript (x. 118, 119). The epithet occurs on coins of Side (p. 704), Anazarbus (B. M. C., Cil., p. cv), Heliopolis (p. 785), Sidon (p. 798), &c.

Let’s see your coins issued to commemorate athletic competitions, misattributed coins you picked up at a bargain price, or anything you feel is relevant!

Edited January 8 by Roman Collector
Correct the legend on the reverse

[Ryro]

Nice coin and great job spotting the misattributed one. Cool rarity!

Here's a favorite coin commemorating boxing:

IONIA. Smyrna. Ae (Circa 115-105 BC). Paramonos, magistrate.

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right.

Rev: ΠAPAMO ΣΜΥΡΝΑΙ.

Hand in caestus; palm to right. Milne 1927, 239. Good very fine. 1.91 g, 14 mm.

Numismatik Naumann Feb 2021

 

And an Olympic coin:

ELIS. Olympia. AR Hemidrachm (Circa 416-404 BC).

16mm // 2,28g

Obv: Head of eagle left; leaf below.

Rev: F - A.

Thunderbolt within wreath.

BCD Olympia 79; HGC 5, 430.

nVF

[David Atherton]

1 hour ago, Roman Collector said:

I recently picked up this misattributed Roman provincial coin of Crispina from Anazarbus at one of the many bargain auctions on Biddr. Its sole description was "Faustina Minor (wife of Marcus Aurelius) bronze coin. Obv: Bust of Empress. Rev: Inscription in Wreath." It turns out the reverse inscription is quite interesting. Its unabbreviated form reads ἱερὸς ἰσελαστικὸς Ἀναζαρβέων ἔτους θϙρʹ, which is translated, "the sacred, iselastic games of the Anazarbans, year 199." Year 199 of the city corresponds to 180/1 CE.

Crispina, 178-182 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 19.1 mm, 6.18 g, 11 h.
Cilicia, Anazarbus, 180/1 CE.
Obv: ΚΡΙϹΠЄΙΝΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΙЄΡΟϹ ΙϹ (in three lines in wreath), ΑΝΑΖΑΡΒЄⲰΝ ЄΤ ΘϘΡ around, palm branch below.
Refs: RPC IV.3, 3657 (temporary); Sear GIC 2096; Ziegler Anazarbos 229; SNG BN 2043.

So, what are these "iselastic games"? Our own @Ed Snible (lxxviii) explains:

ΕΙΣΕΛΑΣΤΙΚΑ. Contests in which the victor was authorized by the Emperor, on his return to his native city, to make his entry, εισελαυνειν, in a triumphal quadriga through a breach made for the occasion in the city wall, and entitled thenceforth to a daily dole either of food or of money, οψωνιον. Various αγονες were established as iselastic by different emperors, but the privilege might be arbitrarily withdrawn or transferred to other contests. See Pliny's Letter to Trajan and Trajan’s rescript (x. 118, 119). The epithet occurs on coins of Side (p. 704), Anazarbus (B. M. C., Cil., p. cv), Heliopolis (p. 785), Sidon (p. 798), &c.

Let’s see your coins issued to commemorate athletic competitions, misattributed coins you picked up at a bargain price, or anything you feel is relevant!

Nice detective work! And an interesting story attached to boot!

[Al Kowsky]

I've posted this coin a number of times already, but don't mind posting it again for this thread ☺️. I won this coin from a Heritage auction slabbed, but had to break it out, it really feels great in hand 😉.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I like the patina of the Crispina coin!

[Marsyas Mike]

Interesting coin, @Roman Collector.  I have one from Anazarbus with a games reference - it's worn, but identifiable.  

Elagabalus Æ 28 Cilicia, Anazarbus (c. 218-222 A.D.) ΑΥΤ Κ Μ Α ΑΝΤΩΝƐ[ΙΝΟϹ  Ϲ]ƐΒ, laureate, draped & cuirass. bust right /  ΑΔΡ[ΙΑΝΙ]ΟϹ [ΟΙΚΟΥΜƐΝΙΚ]ΟϹ ΑΝΑΖΑΡ | ΒΟΥ | Α-Μ-Κ, agonistic crown on a four-legged table RPC VI 7296 (temp); Ziegler 432 (15.08 grams / 28 mm) eBay April 2023 $20.00   

Die-Matches:  Note:  no YP / w. ΒΟΥ.

Die-Match Obv. & Rev.:  Coin no. 3 of RPC VI, 7296 Berlin, Staatliche Museen Inventory No. 18225319, 1906 Löbbecke Ziegler 432

Die-Match Reverse: Coin no. 3 of RPC VI, 7296 Berlin, Staatliche Museen Inventory No. 18225320, I-B MG 350, 12 = Ziegler 419.2

The die-matches: 

 

[JAZ Numismatics]

Always fun to find a misattributed and somewhat esoteric coin! From my collecting focus: similar games were instituted in the capitol of Provincia Arabia, Bostra. They were the Actia Dousaria, which combined the remembrance of the Battle of Actium with the celebration of the Nabataean chief deity Dushares. The games combined athletic and musical competitions, and although they were held every year for many years (always on December 25), the only time they were commemorated in coinage was on an issue of Philip II...

Edited January 10 by JAZ Numismatics

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Some really great coins in this thread plus I've learned some new things about these competitions in the ancient world.

[GinoLR]

Nero, semis

Obv.: NERO CLAV. CAE. AVG. GERM..... ; laureate bust right.
Rev.: CERTA. QV[INQ. ROM.] CO. (Certamina quinquennalia Romae condidit) : "Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (etc.) founded in Rome the Quinquennial Competitions." / S C : table ornamented with griffins supporting a prize-urn and a crown, disc on ground.