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A16, Laodikeia, Nero, Caesar, tripod, serpent
13.6.2020
..da Ancient & Medieval Coins.
This tripod looks familiar but I can’t make this bronze out.
Does it ring a bell with anyone?
16mm 3.55g.
 fig. 1
Click on the images to enlarge
Roma, 17.6.2020
Dear,
significant elements concerning the coin above are shown below:

AE161, mint of Laodikeia ad Lycum2, 50÷54 AD, BMC XXV 161 (page 304), RPC I 2916

Brief description:
D. NƐPΩN - KAIΣAP3, counterclockwise, starting from left, high. Nero Caesar, bare head right. Border of dots.
R. ΠOΛEMΩNOΣ / YIOY ZHNΩNOΣ // ΛAOΔIKEΩN4, on three vertical lines, starting from right. In the middle, tripod surmounted by serpent5. Border of dots.

The search on the web for coins of the type of figure gave rise to the following results:
  1. Savoca Numismatik Starting price: €75 (EUR) Realized: €85.00 (EUR) Savoca Numismatik http://www.savoca-coins.com/ 25th Silver Auction 540 16.09.2018 Description: Roman Provincial Phrygia. Laodikeia ad Lycum. Nero as Caesar AD 50-54. Bronze Æ. 16mm, 4,00g. NEPΩN KAIΣAP, bareheaded and draped bust of Nero right / ΠOΛEMΩNOΣ YIOY ZHNΩNOΣ / ΛAOΔIKEΩN, Tripod surmounted by serpent. very fine. RPC I 2916.
  2. https://www.auctiones.ch/browse.html?auction=22&lot=4159 eAuction #21, Lot 74. Estimate: CHF 75.00. Nero, as Caesar (50-54 AD). AE16 (4.15g 15mm 12h), Laodikeia, Phrygia. Obv. NEPΩN KAICAP, bare head right. Rev. ΠOΛEMΩNOΣ YIOY ZHNΩNONΣ ΛAOΔIKEΩN, tripod with snake. RPC I 2916. Very fine.
  3. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5487907 Unsold, Prezzo iniziale 75€. Savoca Numismatik http://www.savoca-coins.com/ 27th Silver Auction 391 25.11.2018 Description Roman Provincial Phrygia. Laodikeia ad Lycum. Nero AD 54-68. Bronze Æ 16mm, 3,97g. NEPΩN KAIΣAP, bareheaded and draped bust of Nero right / ΠOΛEMΩNOΣ YIOY ZHNΩNOΣ / ΛAOΔIKEΩN, Tripod surmounted by serpent. fine. RPC I 2916.
  4. https://www.biddr.com/auctions/numismatiknaumann/browse?a=111&l=96408 Risultato 50€, 3 offerte, Prezzo iniziale 40€, Stima 50€. Descrizione: PHRYGIA. Laodicea ad Lycum. Nero (Caesar, 50-54). Ae. Anto Polemon, son of Zeno, priest for the fourth time. Obv: NEPΩN KAIΣAP. Bareheaded and draped bust of Nero right. Rev: ΠOΛEMΩNOΣ YIOY ZHNΩNOΣ / ΛAOΔIKEΩN. Tripod surmounted by serpent. RPC I 2916; SNG von Aulock 3839; SNG Copenhagen 561. Ex Dr. P. Vogl collection; ex Bankhaus Aufhäuser (with dealer's ticket). Condition: Near very fine. Weight: 3.80g. Diameter: 16mm.
  5. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=688738 Numismatik Lanz München http://www.numislanz.de/ Auction 147 277 02.11.2009 Description: RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN KAISERREICH NERO (54 - 68) Laodikeia in Phrygien Bronze, Magistrat Polemon, Sohn des Zenon. NEPΩN KAIΣΑΡ, drapierte Büste des Nero nach rechts, Perlkreis. Rs: ΠΟΛΕΜΩNOΣ YIOY ZHNΩNOΣ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΩΝ, Dreifuss mit Schlange, Perlkreis. RPC I 2916. 3,99g. St. 12. Selten. Gutes sehr schön.
  6. Ebay Lanz Condizione:-- Scaduti:22 mar 2020 21:14:20 CET. Offerta più alta:EUR 46,50 Lanz Phrygia Laodicea Nero Tripod Serpent RARE Roman Bronzo § yes1565 PHRYGIA LAODICEA Nero. Bronze. Nero as Caesar AD 50-54. 17mm 4,17g. NEPΩN KAIΣAP, bareheaded and draped bust of Nero right / ΠOΛEMΩNOΣ YIOY ZHNΩNOΣ / ΛAOΔIKEΩN, Tripod surmounted by serpent. RPC I 2916. Sharp XF.
  7. vcoins 295.00€ Rates for: 06/15/20. Nero. 54-68. AE. Laodikeia/Phrygia. 16mm; 4,38g. Obverse: ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ. Bare-headed and draped bust right. Reverse: [ΠΟ]ΛΕΜΩNOΣ/[Y]IOY ZHNΩNOΣ/ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΩΝ. Tripod with snake. Very fine to extremely fine, RARE!
  8. https://collections.mfa.org/objects/260335 Coin of Laodicea with bust of Nero, struck under Anto. Polemo. Roman ProvincialImperial Periodabout A.D. 50–54Mint: Asia: Phrygia, Laodicea Bronze DIMENSIONS: Diameter: 17mm. Weight: 3.94gm. Die Axis: 12 DESCRIPTION: Obverse: Draped bust of Nero to right. Inscription in Greek. Reverse: Tripod, with serpent coiled left around cover. Inscription in Greek. PROVENANCE By date unknown: Hans von Aulock Collection; purchased by MFA from Hans von Aulock, September 23, 1964.
  9. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/2916 Region Phrygia. City Laodicea ad Lycum. Reign Claudius Person (obv.) Nero (Caesar) Magistrate Anto Polemon, son of Zenon (priest for the fourth time) Dating AD 50–4 Obverse inscription ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ Obverse design draped bust of Nero, r. Reverse inscription: ΠΟΛΕΜΩΝΟΣ ΥΙΟΥ ΖΗΝΩΝΟΣ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΩΝ. Reverse design: tripod with serpent. Metal Leaded bronze. Average diameter 15mm. Average weight 4.26g. Axis 12. Reference BMC 161, Cop 561. Specimens 14.
    10.
I conclude by observing that the physical, general and style characteristics of the figure coin are comparable with those of the same type found in the web. In the present state of conservation, the figure coin, if authentic, is worth, in my opinion, about 20.00€.

Regards.
Giulio De Florio

Notes:

(1) AE16. The physical characteristics of the coins from the links above are shown below:

Link Peso (g.) Diametro (mm) Asse di conio (ore)
Link1 4,00 16 -
Link2 4,15 15 12
Link3 3,97 16 -
Link4 3,80 16 -
Link5 3,99 - -
Link6 4,17 17 -
Link7 4,38 16 -
Link8 3,94 17 12
Link9 4,26 15 12
It can be seen from the table that the coin in the figure has physical characteristics (3.55g, 16mm) which fall within the variability range of the coins of the same type found in the web.
(2) Laodikeia ad Lycum (v. link), placed on the long spur of a hill between the narrow valleys of the small rivers Asopus and Caprus, which discharged their waters into the Lycus (today Çürüksu), was in the 1st century BC an important city of Phrygia, near the modern village of Eskihisar in the province of Denizli. According to ancient sources, the city was founded between the years 261-263 BC. from Antiochus II who gave it the name of his wife "Laodice". In 188 BC, the city passed to the kingdom of Pergamum and after 133 BC under Roman control. Towards the end of the Republic and under the first emperors, Laodikeia, benefiting from a favorable position along a commercial route, became one of the most important and thriving cities of Asia Minor, in which important money flows and a large black wool trade passed. Romans paid particular attention to Laodikeia and made the city the center of Kibyra Conventus. Later the city was episcopal see.
(3) NƐPΩN - KAIΣAP (equivalent to Latin NERO CAESAR). Nero in 50 AD was adopted by Claudius who died on October 12 of 54 AD. For the first confirmation of the Tribunician Power he had to wait until December 4 of that year, Power that was renewed to him on the same date from then on. For a biographical summary of Nero refer to the relative entry of Wikipedia.
(4) ΠOΛEMΩNOΣ / YIOY ZHNΩNOΣ // ΛAOΔIKEΩN. (equivalent to Latin "Polemonis filii Zenonis Laodicenorum"), ethnic genitive [.. coin struck in the name of] Polemon, son of Zenon of the Laodiceans. About Anto Polemon, son of Zenon, priest for the fourth time (v. RPC I 2916), I have found no news.
(5) The reverse type in the Laodicean emissions, common to Augustus, Claudius, Nero, Vespasianus, Domitianus, Traianus and Hadrian, was Zeus Laodikeus; the intent was clearly to associate ]the emperor with the first of the gods. This association would have been inappropriate for a Caesar, and in fact, both Britannicus, Emperor Claudius'son, and Nero after the adoption by Claudius, used as reverse type a tripod with a snake twisted, attributes of Apollo, whose cult was practiced in Laodikeia.
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