Cilicia, Mallos AE (Commodus/Amphilochus, RPC IV 6897)

CILICIA, MALLOS
Time of Commodus
AE (20.90mm, 6.00g, 6h)
Struck AD 177-192
Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΚΟΜΟΔC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Commodus right
Reverse: ΜΑΛ-ΛWΤWΝ, city founder Amphilochus, laureate, standing facing, head left, holding branch in right hand with chlamys draped over left; boar at feet to left
References: Levante 1279 (same obv. die), Lindgren III 867 (same obv. die), RPC Online, Vol. IV.3, No. 6897 (3rd specimen this coin)

A very rare type. As far as I know, it is listed in only three different reference works: Lindgren, SNG Levante, and RPC Online, which cites the Levante specimen and one sold by Gorny & Mosch in 2002. This coin, now the third (and featured) example listed by RPC Online, is an obverse die match to the Lindgren and Levante coins and a double die match to the Gorny & Mosch specimen. In addition to its rarity, this coin is also visually attractive (despite the stripped surfaces), featuring a perfectly struck obverse with a good portrait, and an interesting reverse scene depicting Amphilochus, veteran of the Trojan War and legendary founder of the city of Mallos. The boar at Amphilochus' feet likely references the great Calydonian boar hunt, in which his father Amphiaraus took part.

Collection : Roman Provincial