A Stylish Sarapis

[maridvnvm]

The head of Serapis is quite well executed on this Max. II

[dougsmit]

Serapis is a frequent type on Alexandrian coins but I always looked at them as a bit ordinary compared to other types that were not used as often.  Of course most of mine were lower grade coins obtained before the market decided that mint state was the only 'state' that should be bought and that the hobby was intended to enrich middlemen whether it was real dealers or wannabee sellers that set up shop on eBay using the business model that you can always find someone willing to pay several times what the coin cost you.  It seems hard to find 'nice' coins and we see coins that would have been 'dreck' once featured by sellers who count on new buyers.  My Serapis array are mostly pretty ordinary by the definition of old school sellers.  One is still considered desirable but that has nothing to do with Serapis.  Those who wish to ID them for themselves are invited to look.  

[Furryfrog02]

Here is my favorite depiction of Serapis:

[dougsmit]

 

Compare this to the ff02 Elagabalus.  This also exists with bust right and E 'normal' so I consider this an error coin showing the encircling legend was cut by a different hand before or after the bust and the backwards E. 

Edited August 9, 2022 by dougsmit
I will never understand this software which combined my last two posts so I removed the duplication part.

[Furryfrog02]

9 hours ago, dougsmit said:

 

Compare this to the ff02 Elagabalus.  This also exists with bust right and E 'normal' so I consider this an error coin showing the encircling legend was cut by a different hand before or after the bust and the backwards E. 

Could you imagine doing all that work engraving the dies only to find out AFTER the first coin was struck....that you got it all backwards?? 😭

[Prieure de Sion]

Caracalla * Silver Antoninianus Rome 216 AD * RIC 280d * Av: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM * Rv: P M TR P XVIIII COS IIII P P * Serapis

[Sulla80]

Egypt, Alexandria, Hadrian, AD 117-138, BI Tetradrachm, dated RY 19 (AD 134/5)

Obv: AVT KAIC TPAIAN AΔPIANOC CEB, laureate head left

Rev: Draped bust of Serapis right, wearing kalathos; L ЄN-NЄAK•Δ (date) around

[Agrippa]

Here my three Postumus Serapis coins.

With prow and transverse sceptre:

without prow and transverse sceptre:

With prow and straight sceptre:

[Edessa]

Roman Egypt. Alexandria. Hadrian, AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (34mm, 27.90g, 12h). Dated RY 17 (AD 132/133). Obv: AVT KAIC TPAIAN AΔPIANOC CЄB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Draped bust of Serapis right, wearing modius; below, eagle facing, head left, with wings spread; palm frond to right; L-IZ (date) across upper field. Ref: Köln 1083; Dattari (Savio) 1822; K&G 32.550; Emmett 1026.17. Very Fine, nice brown patina, slight edge splits. Ex CNG Sunday Auction (April 2001), Lot 62376.