Beschreibung
Erhaltung: vz / vz- | Abkürzungen
Katalognummer: pileus
Durchmesser: 22,00 mm
weight 4,96gr. | silver Ø 22mm.
obv. Radiate bust of Gordianus right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum,
surrounded by the legend IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG
rev. Providentia, draped, standing left, holding pileus in right hand
and diagonal scepter in left, surrounded by the legend
PROVIDENTIA AVG
The figure depicted does not show us Providentia. The figure deticted on this coin clearly holds a pileus, an attribute that belongs to Libertas, not Liberalitas. We know of specimens with this reverse text for Rome (cf. 227 = Liberalitas with globe and scepter) and Antiochia (cf. RIC 186 = Liberalitas with tessera and cornucopiae.) The style of the coin and the quality of the metal (plated?) suggest an (unofficial?) workshop in Syria or eastern Anatolia. Unpublished in the standard reference literature. Highly interesting and extremely rare.
The original cap of liberty was the Roman pileus, the felt cap of emancipated slaves of ancient Rome, which was an attribute of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. Originially the pileus (Ancient Greek: Pilos) was a brimless felt cap worn in Ancient Greece, Etruria, Illyria (especially Pannonia),later also introduced in Ancient Rome. Cohen | RIC | Hunter | Sear RRRR
Light traces of oxidation. Wonderful portrait with excellent details.
xf/xf-
