Lot 1661

Description

Thrace, Serdica, Caracalla, (A.D. 198-217), AE 20, (4.186 grams), obv. laureate head of Caracalla to right, around AYT K MAV CEV ANT**WNI*NOC, rev. Eros standing facing resting on column, around, CEP**DWN*, dotted border, (cf.S.2490, Mion. Sup.II, 1728, Ruzeka Num.Zeit. 1915, No.377). Attractive brown patina, good very fine/nearly extremely fine and rare.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, June 23, 1999, Sale 50 (lot 2109). A most interesting reverse type. Eros was the god of love (Cupid to the Romans). He was one of the youngest of all the gods, usually represented as the son of Aphrodite (Venus) but his father is either Ares (Mars), Zeus (Jupiter) or Hermes (Mercury). He was represented as a handsome youth and evolved into the god of sensual love of all mankind.